The construction of the 70MW Kukule hydro power project in southwestern Sri Lanka will now be completed by the end of 2002.
The project began in 1999 and consists of a 16m high and 110m long concrete dam, a 5.7km long and 5.6m diameter power tunnel. The underground power house is 200m below the surface, 52m long, 16m wide and 29m high. The tailrace tunnel is 1.6km long. The tunnels will be largely unlined as tests have indicated rock of very good quality.
The Ceylon Electricity Board, a state-owned utility and owner of the project, has signed a contract with Mitsui of Japan for the supply of turbines and generators.
The turbines will be operated under a maximum head
of 186m.