Current Status of Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project as on of December 31, 2008

Cabinet approval for consultancy service was received on October 15, 2003. Consultancy contract was awarded to Electric Power Development Co., Ltd (J –Power) on November 5, 2003. The consultant started the work on November17, 2003. The contract for Lot -1 was awarded to Maeda Corporation, Japan on July 27, 2005 and the contract for Lot -2 was awarded to Maeda – Nishimatsu Joint Venture, Japan on December 06, 2006. The contract for Lot -3 was awarded to Kurimoto Ltd, Japan on November 29, 2007. The Contract for Lot -4 was awarded to Mitsubishi Corporation Japan on June 20, 2008. Bidding for Lot -5, 220kV Transmission is in progress.

Lot-1: Preparatory Works

Lot-2: Main Civil Works

Intake Dam Area 

 Head pond Area 

·         Reclamation Works: Almost completed in Rathnilakele and Nanuoya areas. In progress in the Walkers and Middleton Division areas.

·         River Bank Protection Works: River bank protection works are in progress in Rathnilakelle, Nanuoya and Middleton Division areas.

·         Solid Waste Disposal Facility: Construction of landfill facility in the right bank area is being continued.

·         Construction of Canal: Construction of canal in Walkers area is in progress.

Headrace Tunnel 

Adit No. 1: Excavation of Adit No. 1 having total length 229m was completed.

Adit No. 2: Excavation of Adit No. 2 having total length of 462m was competed.

Adit No. 4: Excavation of  Adit No. 4 of total length 680m was completed.

Headrace Tunnel Excavation Progress: 

Upstream Surge Tank 

New Road:  Excavation for service road to Surge Tank is completed and slope protection work is in progress.   

Improvement of Existing Road: The improvement of the existing estate road is in progress.  

Surge Tank Excavation Progress: 

            *Pilot shaft excavation (1^st stage)

Penstock Tunnel Excavation Progress: 

* Enlargement of shaft is to be done.  

Powerhouse Complex  

Access Tunnel: Excavation of total length of 451m tunnel was completed and in operation from December 15, 2008.

Cable cum Ventilation: Excavation of total 469m length of tunnel was completed.

Power Cavern: Power Cavern excavation completed. Total quantity 33,000m^3.

Grounding Work: Commenced in end of January 2009.  First stage concrete work commenced in February 2009.

Tailrace Tunnel and Outlet Structure

 Excavation progress of Tailrace Tunnel:   

         * Enlargement of shaft is to be done.  

Outdoor Switchyard 

Construction of embankment in the Switchyard area is in progress. 63% (73,000m³/92,000m³) has been completed. The filling has reached EL732.0m and grounding work already commenced.

Site Installations and Services 

Field office for Lot 3 Contractor was completed.

Reclamation of Lot 3 workshop area was completed and handed over to Lot 3 Contractor on February 2, 2009.

HIV Prevention Programme was continued. 

Lot-3: Hydromechanical Equipment Works

 Progress of Works 

Lot-4: Generating Equipment Works

The design drawings, drawings related to other Lots and calculation sheets for foundation loads are being received from Lot 4 Contractor. Next progress meeting with Lot 4 Contractor and Coordination Meeting with Lot 2 and 3 are scheduled to commence in March 2008. 1^st shipment of embedded pipes have already arrived to Sri Lanka

Lot-5:  220 kV Transmission Line

Pre- bid meeting and site visit held on 2009.01.08. Clarifications 1, 2,3 & 4 issued to 3 bidders.

Environmental Management:

 Bio Diversity Assessment – Final report received. Recommendations are being implemented by the Project. 

 Land slide Mitigation – Final report received. Recommendations are incorporated in the designs.

 Ground and Surface water monitoring –on weekly basis continues.

 Monitoring water fall – Monitoring of St. Clair water fall continues on monthly basis.

 Solid waste Management - Permanent garbage collection bins are constructed at resettlement sites. A scientifically designed solid waste management facilities is being constructed at Talawakelle.

Watershed Management Plan (WSMP):

Two pilot scale afforestation programmes commenced at Nagasena and Logie Estates. Based on successful results, this programme was extended to Bearwell and Mattakelle estates too.3200 Bamboo plants were also planted in riverine areas of the above estates. 

Training, Awareness on Conservation and Development of UKHP Catchments:

 This programme will be implemented as a continuation of the training and awareness programme carried out earlier for school children and farmers of the Upper Kotmale Catchments of UKHP.  Conservation Oriental Agriculture for the Small Scale Farming Community on the banks of the Kotmale Oya above the proposed reservoir at Talawakelle will be done.

 Conservation Oriental Agriculture: 

Proposal was obtained from NRMS (Pvt) Ltd for the Conservation Oriental Agriculture for the Small Scale Farming Community on the banks of the Kotmale Oya above the proposed reservoir at Talawakelle.

Resettlement

Resettlement Action Plan is in operation.  Plans of action for Women & Child Development and Health & Nutrition Programmes have been prepared and Health and Nutrition Programme has already commenced.  Under this programme a Health Camp was conducted on June 21, 2008 at Nanuoya Division. Arrangements have been made to train twenty (20) Health Volunteers, selected from the affected families and upon completion of training they will be deployed in Women & Child Development and Health & Nutrition Programmes.  The Social Development Officer resigned from the post in September 30, 2008.  Actions are being taken to fill the vacancy.  

Home garden programme is in progress. Action has been initiated to introduce pears and mandarin cultivation within the new resettlement sites. The Board of Director’s of CEB has approved implementation of micro credit scheme through Corporate Social Responsibility budget.  Negotiations are being made with the officials of the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank to implement the Micro Credit Scheme.

Payments

 For further details, please visit  www.fabm.gov.lk  (To reach UKHP Information... www.fabm.gov.lk -> Enter Project Monitoring System -> Foreign Funded Projects -> Ongoing Projects -> All Projects -> Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project)

Key Mile Stones Achieved

0--> 1967-68 - Mahaweli MasterPlan identified Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Potential , UNDP  FAO Study

1--> 1985 -87 - Feasibility stidies of Upper Kotmale , JICA Grant

2--> 1993- 1995 - Engineering Service study , Environmental Impact Study of Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project, OECF Loan

3--> 1995 - 1998 - Studies of alternatives done and appeal for Environmental Clearance.

4--> July 1998 -Environmental Clearance Granted under the National Environmental Act.

5--> March 2000 - The final Environmental Clearance granted subsequent to a settlement of an appeal made in the Court of Appeal by an Environmental NGO.

6--> March 13, 2002 - Cabinet of Ministers approved the loan to finance the UKHP Project.

7--> March 28, 2002 - Loan agreement between the Governments of Japan and Sri Lanka was signed.

8--> July 10, 2002 - Report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee: Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project. Submitted its report to the government recommending the implementation of the Project with recommendations to mitigate the environmental impacts.

9--> August 21, 2002 - Cabinet of Ministers approved the project with the environmental Mitigation Measures to be published under the National Environmental Act.

10--> April 10, 2003 - Publication of the Gazette Extraordinary bearing number 1283/19 - National Environmental (Upper Kotmale Hydro Hydro-power Project - Monitoring) Regulations No.1 of 2003.

11--> October 15, 2003 - Cabinet of Ministers approved the appointment of Consultants for the implementation of the project.

12--> November 5, 2003 - Consultants were appointed to the project, they commenced the work on November 16, 2003.

13--> July 21, 2004 - Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the Strategic Plan to Strengthen the Ceylon Electricity Board ? in which the Implementation of UKHp was given priority.

14--> April 07,2005 - Cabinet of ministers has taken a decision to proceed with the project limiting it's scope only on st.Clairs waterfall.

15--> july 15, 2005 Lot 1 - preparatory works contract was awarded to M/S Maeda Corporation of Japan

16--> July 27,2005. Lot 1- Contract Agreement was signed between the Ceylon Electricity Board and M/S Maeda Corporation.

17--> December 06, 2006 Lot 2- Contract Agreement was signed between the Ceylon Electricity Board and M/s Maeda Nishimatsu Joint Venture (MNJV) , Japan

18--> November21, 2007 Lot 3- Contract agreement was signed between Ceylon Electricity Board and m/s Kurimoto LTD, Japan.