(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Ministry of Power says the hydropower generation will be further hampered by the low water levels in reservoirs associated with Ceylon Electricity Board hydro power plants.
Currently, the water level in the reservoirs used to generate electricity is rapidly declining due to the severe dry weather conditions that have affected the entire island.
Castlereagh Reservoir:
The water level of Castlereagh Reservoir has dropped to 15.34 meters from the overflow level and the minimum water level in the reservoir that has to be available for power generation is 19 meters from the overflow level.
The remaining volume of water can generate 7.3 gigawatt hours, which is 7.7% of the total capacity of Castlereagh Reservoir.
Maussakelle Reservoir:
The water level in Maussakelle Reservoir has dropped to 13.69 meters from the overflow level and the minimum water level needed for power generation 22.4 meters from overflow level.
Accordingly, Maussakelle Reservoir can generate 77.7 gigawatt hours of electricity from the remaining water volume which is 27.4% of the total capacity.
Samanala Wewa Reservoir:
The water level of Samanala Wewa Reservoir has dropped to 25.20 meters from the overflow level and the minimum water level needed for power generation is only up to 31 meters from the overflow level. Accordingly, the remaining water volume of the Samanala Wewa reservoir can generate 15.2 gigawatt units of electricity which is 11.4% of the total capacity.
Also, the current water levels in the main reservoirs of the Mahaweli complex to generate electricity are as follows.
Kotmale Reservoir:
The water level of Kotmale Reservoir has dropped to 24.97 m from the overflow level and the maximum water level in the reservoir that can go low is only up to 38 m from the overflow level. Accordingly, the water volume of the Kotmale Reservoir can generate 29.0 gigawatt hours of electricity and it is 20.3% of the total capacity.
Victoria Reservoir:
The water level of Victoria Reservoir has dropped to 27.49 meters from the overflow level and the maximum water level in the reservoir that can go down is up to 68 meters from the overflow level. Accordingly, the remaining water volume of Victoria Reservoir can generate 133.3 gigawatt hours of electricity which is30.1% of its total capacity.
The release of water from these Mahaweli reservoirs to generate hydropower from the above reservoirs should also be restricted as the country’s drinking water requirement and agricultural activities should be given priority as well. Therefore, the Ministry of Power requests the public to use electricity sparingly.
