Uma Oya hydro project to be commissioned this year

Uma Oya hydro-electricity project could be commissioned in the latter part of this year, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was informed today by the Iranian Ambassador in Colombo. Hashem Ashjazadeh.

The envoy told Gunawardena that the project has been completed and after testing of the reservoir and two generators of 60 Megawatt each, it could be commissioned later this year.

Gunawardena, who visited Monaragala, Ampara and other areas in Eastern Province during the weekend to look into the issues faced by farmers, today (August 7) met the Iranian Ambassador and the Chief Representative Officer Nima Nikdel of FARAB, the company which implemented the Uma Oya Project, to find out its progress. 

Nikdel said two inspection teams from the United States and Europe would complete the inspections within couple of months so that the power generation as well as release of water for irrigation could be commenced.

The Uma Oya Project will generate 120 MW of electricity and will release 145 million cubic meters of water to irrigate 50,000 acres of dry land. 

The electricity generated at Uma Oya will be transmitted through a transmission line to Badulla, where it will be added to the national grid.