The
Rentembe dam and power station from the most downstream project of
a cascade of reservoirs and hydro power stations on the Mahaweli ganga
in the Dumbara Valley. Rhe rantambe dam is located just downsream
of the confluence of Uma Oya with Mahaweli Ganga, about 3 kms downstream
of the Randenigala dam and 2.5 kms upstream of the Minipe anicut.
The primary function of the project is the generation electrical energy
using the water releases from Randenigala reservvoir and the natural
flow of the Uma Oya.
The Rantambe project consists of a 420 m. long, 42 m. high gravity
type concrete dam across Mahaweli ganga and a power station on the
left bank having two turbine-generator units of total installed capacity
of 52 MW. The gated Spilway, power intake and the steel penstock are
incorporated in the dam. The power station is expected to generate
180 Gwh. Of Firm energy and 73 Gwh. Of secondary energy per annum.
The switchyard and transmission lines have been already completed
under the Randenigala project.
The construction
work of the project was commenced in January 1987. Most of the civil
construction wok was completed by February 1990. The valuable timber
within the reservoir bed was extracted and the reservoir bed cleared
of even shrub and stumps, by the State Timber Corporation. The impounding
of the reservoir commenced on 2nd February 1990. and the power generating
units 1 and 2 were successfully put into commercial operation on 10th
March and 10th April 1990 respectively.
Finances
The foreign
cost of the project is financed by a loan of 230 Million DM provided
on concessionary terms by the Federal Republic of Germany approximating
to Rs.3,027 million. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is financing the
local component amounting to Rs.1050 million. The project was competed
as scheduled in May 1990.
Consultancy
services
The consultancy
services are provided by Joint Venture Randenigala (JVR) which were
a consortium of three consultancy firms namely Salzgitter Consult
GmbH. Agrar Und Hydrotechnik GmbH of the Federal Republic of Germany
and Electrowatt Enginerring services Ltd., of Switzerland, in association
with the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).
Back
Scope
A dam
at Randenigala site consists with two turbaine-generator units of
total installed capacity 52 MW and the power station generated 180
GWh of firm energy and 73 GWh of secondary energy.
Recervoir
Catchments
area 3,118 Km 2
Gross storage capacity 21.0 MCM
Live storage capacity 4.4 MCM
Surface at retention level 152.0 m MSL
Back
Main
Dam
Dam Length
- 420 m
Dam Height 0.20 m
Crest elevation 41.50 m
Crest length - 50 m
Maximum base width -
Back
Spill
way
Maximum
capacity 10,235 m 3/ s
Number of gates - 1
Type of gates - Taintor Type
Hight of gate 16.21 m
Width of gates 16.00 m
Back
Tunnel
Bottom & Irrigation Outlet
Design
capacity 300 m3/
Number of turbine & Generator - 2
Type of turbines - Francis type
Setting of turbines - 148.50 m MSL
Installed capacity 64 MVA
Annual estimated energy
Generation firm - 180 GWh (one million units)
Secondary - 73 GWh
(Sources Projects and Programme 1988)