| Kukule Ganga Dam | |
| Location Map: | Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates: | 6.58°N 80.3269°W |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Purpose: | P |
| Status: | O |
| Cost: | Rs.16.5 billion |
| Dam Type: | G |
| Dam Crosses: | Kukule River |
| Spillway Count: | 4 |
| Res Name: | Kukule Ganga Reservoir |
| Res Capacity Total: | 1630000m2 |
| Res Catchment: | 312km2 |
| Res Surface: | 88ha |
| Res Elevation: | 205m (673feet) |
| Plant Coordinates: | 6.6167°N 80.2758°W |
| Plant Type: | R |
| Plant Turbines: | 2 × |
The Kukule Ganga Dam is a 110m (360feet) gravity dam built across the Kukule River in Kalawana, Sri Lanka. The run-of-river dam feeds an underground hydroelectric power station located approximately away, via tunnel.[1] [2]
The gravity dam is built across the Kukule River, which is a major mid-basin tributary of the Kalu River. The dam measures 1100NaN0 and 200NaN0 in length and height respectively, with four spillways, and a sand trap on the left-bank. Each spillway gate measures 9.3m (30.5feet) high and 12m (39feet) wide, and uses the same automated technology as the Victoria Dam.[3]
The dam creates the Kukule Ganga Reservoir, which has a capacity and catchment area of 1630000m2 and 312km2 respectively. After passing through the dam and sand traps, water from the reservoir is fed into a 5.712NaN2 long tunnel, which leads to the underground power station. The tunnel from the dam to the power station, with an internal diameter of 10.5-, creates a gross head of 1850NaN0.
Water from the tunnel is fed into the underground power station, consisting of two units. This capacity was intentionally limited to due to load issues.[4] The power station generates an average of annually.
Two transformers step up the voltage of the power generated to, which is then transferred to the national grid at the Mathugama Substation, via a long double-circuit transmission line.