A Sri Lankan mini hydro solution to energy shortages was inaugurated on 21 March by C V Guneratne, Minister of Industrial Development and Southern Province Chief Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.
The mini-hydro plant, at the Kandedloa Tea Factory, produces 200kW, of which the factory requires between 55kW and 110kW. The balance will be fed to the local electricity grid. The hydro plant has a crossflow turbine, penstock, generator and control system that were all manufactured locally; although the stream has a head of only 90m the penstock allows the turbine to be sited some 300m downstream.