CNEEC Awarded Contract for Construction of Hydro Project in Kelani River

The China National Electric Equipment (CNEEC) has been awarded a US $ 82 million contract for constructing a 35 MW Broadlands Hydropower Project, located in Sri Lanka’s Kelani River, by the Ceylon Electricity Board.

The Kelani River is one of Sri Lanka’s major rivers. This power plant would be the final power station in the Laxapana Cascade System and would have a 350 MW total installed capacity.

According to the contract, the designing, construction and commissioning of the 35 MW project would be handled by the CNEEC. This project also incorporates a diversion dam with a length of 48 m and 19 m height; 114 m long and 24 m high concrete dam; an 850m long diversion tunnel; a 132KV transmission line; a surface power station; and a 3.5 km long headrace tunnel.

The project has already been issued with the necessary Environmental clearances. Construction would begin by early 2011 and would be completed within  four years. It is being funded by commercial loans obtained from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and also the People Bank of Sri Lanka. It is expected to add another 126 GWh of energy to the national grid every year.