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Thursday Sep 19, 2024
Monday, 5 May 2014 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
ESNA Power has over the years grown its operations and contributes 10 MW of power to the National Grid. The company has over 10 MW of hydro and wind power more in the pipeline, some of which will be established over the next 12 months.
Presently the operating plants are 1.3 MW Halathura Ganga MHP, 1.3 MW Gurugoda MHP, 1.2 MW Upper Kokawitta MHP and 3.8 MW Bulathwatta MHP. The company intends to launch an IPO in the course of 2015.
The new hydropower plant is located on the scenic slopes of the Haputale mountain range on the south- west boundary of Uva basin. It utilises the waters of Kalkanna Oya – a tributary of the Weli Oya and Walawe rivers.
The Bulathwatta power plant was skilfully designed using the latest engineering developments in the field of hydroelectricity. The hydropower plant has been meticulously designed to keep the environmental impacts to a bare minimum compared to a project of similar nature.
With a net-head of 117m and a designed flow of 3.8 m3/s, the hydropower plant is forecast to generate 12,000,000 kWh of energy annually. This addition of electricity to the National Grid will certainly be a source of strength to the country’s pressing need for renewable, clean energy sources, which has achieved the milestone of 275 MW.
The turbines and the equipment of Bulathwatta Hydro Power Plant were unique as they are locally manufactured and designed with state-of-the-art German technology, and were supplied by VS Turbo Ltd. For the first time in Sri Lanka, Glass Reinforced Pipes (GRP) from HOBAS Rohre GmbH, Austria, were used as headrace pipes with siphoning arrangement to minimise the changes to the existing landscape.
Blending with the panoramic landscape of the area, the architecturally-designed power house and the other installations of the power plant have merged with the visual perceptions of the mountain range.
The project has undertaken numerous CSR projects to uplift the living standards of the community. Furthermore, the project has established a motorable road of 3.5 km to this remote village, which has enhanced the lives of the villagers.
Enormous efforts have been extended during the project implementation to safeguard the surrounding environment due to construction activities. The power plant design was also consistent with the ESNA Power Environmental Policy of retaining the scenic beauty of the surroundings.
ESNA Power in its forward march in bringing clean renewable electricity has already started implementation of new projects with over 10MW of installed capacity both locally and internationally.
