Free Lanka mini hydro projects make steady progress

Saturday, 20 August 2011 01:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Steady progress is being made on the new hydropower projects undertaken by Hydro Power Free Lanka PLC (HPFL), a subsidiary company of Free Lanka Capital Holdings PLC.

A company spokesman said that while 90% of the initial civil work of Stellenberg Hydro Power Plant has been completed, at Thebuwana 55% of such work is over. Penstock (Steelpipe ) work of both projects will commence by the end of this month. Meanwhile, orders have been placed for electromechanical equipment for both projects.

These two mini hydropower plants situated in Gampola and Kuruwita will add 1.8 MW to the national grid once commissioned. Work in the Stellenberg project at Gampola and the Tebuwana project at Kuruwita will be completed during the next financial year.

He added that the initial application for carbon credits has been forwarded to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) for both projects.In addition to these two plants, considerable progress has been made on the Halgranoya mini hydropower projects.

Approval has been obtained from the Central Environment Authority (CEA) for the Phase 2 and as for the Phase 1, the management is following up in obtaining other approvals. Once completed Halgranoya projects will have an installed capacity of 3.6 MW .

He added that the company is proud to be one of seven projects in Sri Lanka which is registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change ( UNFCCO) for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) .The company was one of the first to receive this status , as early as 2003.

Meanwhile, Hydro Power Free Lanka PLC has had a good year in 2010-11 with total revenue rising to Rs.135.2 million compared to Rs.114.9million of the previous financial year thus recording a 17.7% increase. The company recorded a profit after tax of Rs. 48.1 m.

The company produced 10.8 million kilowatts to the National Grid which was a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year. This was achieved despite setbacks caused by adverse weather conditions forcing plant closures for 2 months during the financial year under review, states the Managing Director Mr. G.A. Aloysius, in his review.

Once all current plants programmes are commissioned, HPFL PLC would have a total capacity of 8.57MW.

Discussing environmental issues, the review states that the company strongly believes in a policy of preserving the environment through re-planting and practicing soil erosion preservation management at all hydro sites. Environment surveys are regularly conducted to assess the ground situation to address issues and take any remedial action if necessary.