Generating clean energy at cost of nature
Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) propose to promote Mini and Micro Hydro Power generation projects as an environmental friendly power generation option to national economy. Mini hydro power plants with 176 MW capacity will be established in the coming years. They expect to reduce 20 percent of GHG emission (approximately 36,010.2 Gg) in energy sector by 2030 against the Business-As-Usual scenario as unconditionally 4 percnt (approximately 7,202.04 Gg) and conditionally 16 percent (approximately 28,808.16 Gg) as a solution for climate change.However, we have to address the issue whether we want to develop clean energy at the cost of nature, social and cultural needs.
Sri Lanka’s energy mix
The average per capita electricity consumption in 2014 was 535 kWh per person in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan power system has a total installed capacity of 3500 MW by end of 2014 including 1285 MW thermal power. The maximum demand recorded in 2014 was 2152 MW. Therefore, one does not see major issues with installed capacity.
The CEB’s own generation mix has changed dramatically in recent years. In 2014, it generated around 3600 GWh from hydropower plants, 3200 GWh from coal-fired power plants and 1800 GWh from oil-fired power plants. The CEB’s generation mix was quite different in 2013, when it generated almost 6000 GWh from hydro, 1500 GWh from coal and 1300 GWh from oil. The government has taken a policy decision to develop hydro-power plants below 10 MW capacities by the private sector – the reason for this mini hydro controversy.
Since 1996 many small hydro plants and a few other renewable power plants have been connected to the grid. Total capacity of these plants is approximately 350 MW. These plants are mainly connected to 33 kV distribution lines. The CEB has signed standard power purchase agreements for another 249 MW. Shifting production at the CEB over the years has been due to a wide range of factors, including the lack of rainfall, introduction of coal, the growing amount of power generated by private companies and reach of the transmission grid, which currently serves more than 98 percent of the population.
Mini-hydro is one of the best sovereign and renewable energy sources to combat climate change. This was certainly in the era that Sri Lanka was promoting village hydro/pico hydro to provide electricity to the rural villages with no grid connection. This is a better option for rural electrification without depending on the imported coal, oil or gas and large grid as long as they are not connected to the national electricity grid.
Things changed when the multi-million companies got into the business with developing mini-hydro connected to the national grid. The so called mini hydro experts started selling potential locations to rich companies backed by politicians, even the Sustainable Energy Authority started providing provisional approval for the project with no scientific analysis done on the impacts to the river ecosystem and society.
Aesthetic beauty and biodiversity
Sri Lankan landscape has over 700 waterfalls, and over 150 have vanished by the mini hydro projects. Over 200 km of streams are now flowing through the pipelines and the river sections are dried up. River users are completely helpless and the river biodiversity including the fish species have gone forever. Diyagalla Ella in Watawala, Kurundu Oya Ella, St Clairs are some famous falls destroyed for hydropower. Ali Hatha, Atha Mala Ella, Hath Male Ella, Athwelthota Ella and many others will also disappear soon. The CEA has a list of 546 waterfalls to be gazetted for conservation. This list does not include those project already approved and under construction. Some of the bigger falls are among those have removed from the list by the CEA officers.
Unfortunately, the Central Environmental Authority, Forest Department, Wildlife Department, Geological Survey and the Mines Bureau got officials sympathetic with the project developers but not on the environment or the affected people. The most recent example is that approval of the 1 MW mini hydro-power project in Morapitiya-Athwelthota waterfall where the National Aquatic Resource and Research Agency found that 15 fish species out of 25 are in danger. The location is home to two point endemic fish species i.e Martenstyne’s Goby and Rasboroides nigomarginatus. The EIA consultants however, only reported 18 fish species in this location in 2014 whereas the Wildlife Conservation Society, Galle found 32 fish species. This shows that we cannot depend on EIA consultants, who make reports to justify the projects in favour of the developer who pay the consultancy fees.
(Mini hydro in Ramboda Falls)
Corrupt approval process
Sadly, the EIA process in Sri Lanka is corrupt and misleading. Its process has lost the glory days due to the political interventions, lack of EIA law enforcement, unqualified project staff approving agencies and corrupt EIA experts/ academics. Therefore, current EIA process has failed to control the damage done to the river systems by the Mini hydro developers.
So far the CEA has approved over 100 mini hydro power projects. Fish ladders and environmental flow has given as an important conditions among many others. But none of these dams are operating the fish ladders or release adequate environmental flow. The truth is that the CEA does not monitor these projects and they have no capacity to do so. Therefore, the CEA has no idea what these dams done to our river network.
The condition on fish ladders is an attempt of green washing of mini-hydro dams by the CEA and rest of the project approving agencies. None of them have the expertise on how the fish ladders are working in Sri Lankan context. We do not even have good research on which species are migrating and which time of the year. Most threatened fish species in Sri Lanka cannot use fish ladders. Therefore, fish ladders are not the solution for many migratory species. A river study in the US Northeast has found that many fish species are unable to use standard passageways to swim past dams on their spawning runs . They also found even if they go upstream, they cannot swim downstream. Why these officers still fool people by giving fish ladders as a condition is a question.
Similarly, no dam operators provide adequate environmental flow, which is the second lie in approving the dams. Only about 4-inch diameter PVC pipe has used as the e-flow where the river is more than 30 meter wide.
In the case of Athwelthota and In Gatambe mini hydro projects, a condition has also given to translocate these threatened fish species, which is not practical and studied yet at all. Why do the CEA officers and developers fool the nature and people with such conditions? It should be noted that fish is not the only biodiversity living in these microhabitats. Thousands of other fauna and flora species may lose survival due to this destruction.
Sustainable Energy Authority is a problem
The problems in the mini hydro is a procedural issues too. The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) is the main culprit for the damage done by the mini hydro projects. They issue the provisional approval without any information on the negative environmental impacts of the project which then developer use to obtain rest of the licences. Those other ignorant agencies such as local authorities, divisional secretariats provide their approval without much worry. The CEA and other project approving agencies satisfy the documentary need by requesting Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and very rarely an EIA. IEE documents are not open for public comments. People learn the projects in the last minute and too late for any intervention. By the time the developer has spend significant amount of money for the EIA consultants and the officials and they are not ready to be defeated in this process. To allow this process, the SEA has issued a gazette notification declaring that 500-meter of the riverbank each side may be given for mini hydro development. They have also declared certain rivers as hydro-power potential rivers without even basic environmental assessment or strategic environmental assessment produced.
What should we do
We are now in the era of climate change. Humans are not the only species in trouble due to this man-made disaster. Running rivers are very much important for river life and people. Once lost these ecosystems cannot recover at all. It took almost a decade to understand the wrong doing by the mini hydro projects. It is too late in certain rivers. The river ecosystem in the Kuru Ganga, the Mahaweli Ganga upstream are almost dead now.
We have no protected rivers for fish, fresh water crabs and others species of fauna and flora. The latest Red Data List reports Sri Lanka has 50 endemic crab species out of 51 species, 256 endemic spider species out of 501 species. It also reports 205 out of 253 land snails are endemic to Sri Lanka and 50 fish species out of 91 species found in Sri Lanka are endemic. The data shows that protecting the terrestrial ecosystems is so important. Unfortunately, the CEA and other project-approving agencies are so ignorant about this data and approve project in such sensitive habitats.
It is time to fight against destructive mini hydro projects and stop them. It is also time to demolish those mini hydro projects which are not productive and built in sensitive ecosystems. It is not a sustainable climate solution anymore. Let the non-traditional renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal power take the place of mini hydro to mitigate climate change. We request Climate Change Secretariat to remove the reference to the mini-hydro projects from Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
Source : 29/11/2016 Daily News http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/11/29/features/100499
Mini hydro power plants; money spinner for few; disaster for nature
Mini hydro power plants are steadily conquering the energy sector in Sri Lanka. Amidst much controversy, private companies, politicians and other influential people have resorted to this new avenue of earning a few more bucks. Even though the drainage pattern of the country is well suited for Small Hydro Power Plants (SHP), with the availability of fast flowing water to generate hydroelectricity centralized in the highlands; not all potential locations are necessarily environmentally viable. According to a research conducted by the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) the implementation of such less or unviable projects would lead to the irreversible damage of the environment that has a direct effect on the natural resources and ecosystem services to the communities. The Central hills and their surrounding slopes also contain most of the country’s biodiversity, especially within Protected Areas (PA’s) – areas protected under the legislation of Sri Lanka. These are called ‘NoGo’ areas for mini-hydro power plants. However, the current trend is to ignore these restrictions and establish a weir to get the maximum water flow for power generation neglecting the existing biodiversity. Further, there have been many instances where proposed project locations were shown to lie outside PA’s but lie within the PA in reality.
The initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is supposed to be the key document that determines whether the project is acceptable in the grounds of environmental, social and geological impacts and whether the environmental clearance should be granted for the said project. It is one of the principle documents needed for the approval process stipulated by the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA), which is the main project approving agency for mini hydro power plants.
- “The IEE is not only meant to identify potential environmental, social and geological impacts but also supposed to address hydrological features which may prove the projects’ viability”
However, it fails in its objective of identifying errors and unfeasible projects due to many reasons for which the detailed discourse is timely. Supporting reports and studies for gaining approvals are the most likely to contain inaccurate, false or inadequate information, especially the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) report. The IEE is not only meant to identify potential environmental, social and geological impacts but also supposed to address hydrological features which may prove the projects’ viability. However, EFL and many other environmentalists have encountered several instances where it was found that the proposed quantity of energy cannot be produced by the river/stream and subsequently jeopardizing the ecological health of the Rivers’ downstream through inadequate provision of the environmental flow.
Quite recently, the Daily Mirror received details about another mini hydro which will be constructed under the supervision of Rivinmo Hydro (Private) Limited, a company run by former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda. The project is planned to be constructed within close proximity to Pundalu Oya, which belongs to the Kotmale Divisional Secretariat.
“…another mini hydro will be constructed under the supervision of Rivinmo Hydro (Private) Limited, a company run by former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda”
Environmental experts believe that with the construction of mini hydro projects, the biodiversity is facing major threats. People in rural areas thrive on natural resources of water for farming and other purposes while they are an asset during times of drought. With the construction of mini hydro projects, most streams and estuaries would be blocked, affecting the livelihoods of the people. As such villagers in Kumbaloluwa, Madakanda, Niyamgandara, Kosgahapathana, Bogahawela, Katarandana and many other Grama Niladhari divisions use the water from Pundalu Oya for their day-to-day purposes, especially, at times of drought. With the construction of this project, the waterfalls at Egodawela and Wewahena would be affected in addition to several other natural ponds.
Another risk factor is that the location has been identified as an area that is prone to develop landslides.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Systems Ecologist, Dr. Ranil Senanayake said that mini hydro power plants do have a role to play. “But before they start constructing these they should consider the Downstream Recharge Capacity. But what they do is, they block the water flowing through the stream and send it through a tube. Once the water start going through a tube, the biodiversity is adversely affected. This is an important aspect to consider because they take water from the downstream. Mini hydros do contribute but we could get an equal amount of energy if we developed wind or solar power projects as well. These will not interfere with the flow of water in a stream. We live in an island and we thrive on surface water accumulated from rainfall. If these people keep building mini-hydros ultimately we will not have any water for consumption or for any daily use.”
“Mini hydros do contribute but we could get an equal amount of energy if we develop wind or solar power projects as well”
In his comments to the Daily Mirror, Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Director Hemantha Vithanage said that back in 2001 several private companies decided that an IEE would be sufficient to carry out mini hydro projects. “An IEE doesn’t require any public hearing unlike an EIA which is open for the public for a period of 30 days. Within this time, the people in that particular area can voice out their concerns in relation to the proceedings of the project. According to my knowledge, mini hydro projects cause an irreversible damage to the ecosystems in which various species survive.
“According to my knowledge, mini hydro projects cause an irreversible damage to the ecosystems in which various species survive”
We have to protect the endemic species in this country along with other natural resources like the waterfalls. For example there are only two water orchids endemic to Sri Lanka as of now and 19 species of fish. Another problem with these procedures is the fact that these people identify a 3 metre high waterfall as a ‘water drop’. As a result close to 70 locations within close proximity to a waterfall have been identified as sites for these mini hydro plants. As far as I know, there are no studies done about the impact this type of projects would cause to the biodiversity of the country. This has turned out to be a mafia for political bigwigs and private companies. I suggest that these people use alternate methods of providing energy to the national grid either through solar or wind power plants which would be less damaging to the environment as well.”
In an attempt to find more details regarding the impacts of this project, the Daily Mirror spoke to a villager, under condition of anonymity said “They still haven’t started working on the project. However, they have given the proposal suggesting few locations to the CEA but according to my knowledge, these locations had been rejected by the CEA. Many villagers are against this project. Nevertheless, it was alleged that Admiral Karannagoda had promised to build roads and benefits for the villagers in an attempt to proceed with the project. As a resident I believe that a project of this nature would cause great damage to the environment.”
Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda, Ministry of Power and Sustainable Energy Secretary said that mini hydro power plants are one of the best resources that Sri Lanka could ever have. “These projects are definitely beneficial to our country. If not, we would not have any fuel and therefore, we have to rely on wind, solar and hydro power.
Our dream is to become an energy self-sufficient nation. Of course there is a certain amount of environmental damage done during the construction phase. Therefore we have suggested the CEA identifies all sensitive waterfalls and gazette them. Thereafter the remaining waterfalls could be utilized for the projects. The only issue is that people are not working together. Sometimes the developer is trying to find money and there is minimum coordination between the people and the developers. As of now there are around 75 projects which have been approved and I believe that around another 100 more projects will be approved in future.”
Source : 06/09/2016 Daily Mirror //www.dailymirror.lk/115321/Mini-hydro-power-plants-money-spinner-for-few-disaster-for-nature#sthash.HQio0gpB.dpuf
Call to protect environment from mini-hydro power projects
Rainforest protectors in Sri Lanka requested the authorities to take immediate corrective steps to stop the destruction taking place due to the rapidly spreading mini-hydro power projects throughout the wet zone. They urged that the national policy on renewable energy be focused on technologies that do not cause ecological destruction to catchment areas.
According to rainforest protectors, water sources, including main streams around Mandaram Nuwara and Hanguranketha have became the latest victims of the rapidly spreading mini-hydro projects. They have became a threat to the livelihoods of the people in these areas.
Agriculture is the main livelihood of the people in the Hanguranketha, Walapane, Delthota and Pathahewaheta Divisional Secretariat Divisions. They are fulfilling their water requirement mainly from Belihul Oya, Ma Oya, Thalathu Oya and Marassana Oya. These areas have faced a huge threat with the commence of the construction of new mini-hydro power plants.
Social, economical and environmental issues are rising up with the construction of the Deegalhinna mini-hydro project based on Deegal Oya. More than 300 acres of paddy fields around one kilometre of Deegal Oya have gone dry due to the obstruction of water supply. New hydro projects have caused the drying of Ethawatunuwala waterfall and Deegalahinna waterfall by threatening endemic plants and animals.
Source : Daily News 30/07/2016 http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/07/30/local/89011
Koskulana mini hydro-power project: A disaster for ecological diversity?
Sri Lanka is blessed with plenty of rainforests that had contributed to regulating its climatic conditions over the years. Yet during the recent past, people with influential backgrounds have resorted to utilizing these natural resources for their personal benefits. A series of mini-hydro projects and hotels which were suspended due to various environmental and humanitarian concerns are subject to commencement under the purview of the Ministry of Special Assignments.
One such project that had raised concerns over the environmental-expert fraternity is the Koskulana mini-hydro project which is being developed within a ‘buffer zone’ of the Sinharaja Forest – a rainforest in Sri Lanka which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to environmental experts a buffer zone is defined as an area of land which is designated for environmental protection. In an attempt to shed light on this issue, Dailymirror the spoke to a few concerned parties to inquire about the current progress of this project.
The DS has issued this land for temporary use : PILF
The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF), a non-profit organisation established in 1999, which highlights environmental issues, has taken legal measures against this project and have filed a case in the Court of Appeal. Speaking Dailymirror to the , a representative of this organisation who wished to remain anonymous said that they were very much concerned about this issue after it was aired on television last November. “We filed a case under the complaint number 527/2015 and took up the matter in courts. We thought we should take a closer look at this project and when inquired we came to know that it was happening inside the buffer zone of the Sinharaja Forest violating certain laws and regulations. The project is being done at a border of an area which has been marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and I think this is a serious matter to be dealt with.
But this ongoing project doesn’t seem to be a temporary one at all. When the matter was taken up in courts a notice was issued to suspend the work. Therefore, by any chance if the developer resumes work, it would be contempt of court. We have also drafted a petition with seven parties appearing as respondents
One of the main problems concerning this matter is the fact that there has been no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done addressing the pros and cons it would impose on the environment. The Central Environmental Authority has asked to stop issuing EIAs but to just submit an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) which doesn’t include the public opinion. For an issue like this, the public opinion is very crucial because it is the villagers who will be affected in the end. An IEE is negligible when it comes to a large scale process like this. We are trying to restore this by making a request in courts to introduce the system of drafting EIAs and clarifying the issues when it comes to environmental concerns rather than drafting IEEs and white-washing a major part of the issue which needs to be highlighted.”
We filed a case under the complaint number 527/2015 and took up the matter in courts
When inquired further, the PILF has also found that the Divisional Secretary of Kalawana has given this particular stretch of land to the developer through a permit to be used on a temporary basis. “But this ongoing project doesn’t seem to be a temporary one at all. When the matter was taken up in courts a notice was issued to suspend the work. Therefore, by any chance if the developer resumes work, it would be contempt of court. We have also drafted a petition with seven parties appearing as respondents.”
The villagers were bribed to support the project : Resident
The Sinharaja World heritage site is home to many endemic species including freshwater fishes. The Koskulana River which flows through the forest is a treasure to many villagers living within this area.
Remaining under strict condition of anonymity, an area resident said that as a result of the weir that has been built across the river, 5.8km of the river will be dried down. “This would disturb the life cycles of the fish living in small streams. This area is home to 300 odd villagers and they utilize water from this river for their daily consumption. When this water gets dried down, how will they survive? When the ecosystem is disturbed orchids and other such plants will be subject to extinction. When this particular Professor came to do a report on this area we were told that due to blasting of rocks there will be landslides experienced on areas where there are steep elevations. Another concern is the fact that this particular project is supposed to produce up to 750kW but the amount of water provided by the river is not sufficient enough to produce such a capacity.”
The resident also said that several politicians have been exerting their influences to continue this project. “Politicians such as Piyasena Gamage have been involved in this project from the beginning. According to my knowledge, the developer gets a profit of Rs. 1 million when generating 1 MW of electricity and the estimate for this project was close to Rs. 218 million. Several people supporting the project have bribed the villagers asking them to support the project. Now the villagers are having different opinions about it. Only a few couldn’t be bought to support this project and they know the true value of their environment.”
Yes, I decided to revoke suspensions on these projects : Sarath Amunugama
In his comments to the Dailymirror , Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama said that he had walked every bit of this area while serving as a government agent in Galle. “It was I who gave land to these people so how can they say that this project will cause harm on the environment. Several of these projects were suspended due to abeyance of certain authorities including some NGOs and environmental rights activists.
They have been shouting ever since this project started and therefore we had to suspend work for some time. But as far as I’m concerned there will be no harm caused to the environment and therefore, I have decided to revoke suspensions on these projects and complete them soon.”
In his comments to the Dailymirror , Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama said that he had walked every bit of this area while serving as a government agent in Galle. “It was I who gave land to these people so how can they say that this project will cause harm on the environment. Several of these projects were suspended due to abeyance of certain authorities including some NGOs and environmental rights activists.
They have been shouting ever since this project started and therefore we had to suspend work for some time. But as far as I’m concerned there will be no harm caused to the environment and therefore, I have decided to revoke suspensions on these projects and complete them soon.”
Can’t respond, matter is in courts : Kalawana Divisional Secretary
The Dailymirror spoke to the Kalawana Divisional Secretary, G.D.L Udayakumari to inquire about the allegations but she refused to reply since the matter is still in courts.
Mini-hydro plants are not a sustainable solution: Jayantha Wijesinghe
Speaking to the , Chief Co-ordinator of Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka, Jayantha Wijesinghe said that when a project of this nature is being done, certain legal procedures should be taken in to consideration. “The initial approval for the project was submitted back in 2008 but then the Forest Department rejected approval. However, by 2014 they were able to convince the Forest Department and they started the project. About 25-30% has been completed so far according to my knowledge but several other parties argue that almost 75% of the construction has been done. The Koskulana River is situated within the buffer zone of the Sinharaja Forest and therefore it is a highly protected area. The project is being done adjoining the boundary of this buffer zone. Buffer zone areas are quite important since they have high ecological diversity and therefore much attention needs to be given in terms of preserving the environment. Whoever is developing projects should consider the environment as their topmost priority. However, the major problem occurs when they start to build the weir across the river because thereafter it would slow down the flow of water. This will have a negative impact on species migration especially that of the fish population. This in turn will disturb the river flow and as a result the entire structure of the ecosystem will break down. At present a weir is built across the river and that itself is a violation of the law.”
“Another massive problem will be that around 500-600m of the river will be dried down. In reality nobody will be concerned to monitor the flow of water. They also have done sand-mining and have cleared about 2-3 acres. This hydro power plant is being constructed within 4 km of the Kudawa entrance. One has to reach this site through thick forest and on either side lies the Rajuwankanda forest annexed to Sinharaja. Here there are 10-15 small streams and a footpath used by villagers. But after this project has commenced work, there have been heavy vehicles moving along this footpath which has made it muddy so much so that now villagers cannot use it. In addition to that, the small streams have been disturbed and there too, the water has become muddy. Living in these small streams are little fishes endemic to Sri Lanka and once their ecosystems get damaged, their lifecycles will be disturbed.”
Political powerhouses are playing a game undercover and they do not know the consequences of such actions. Banks too are in the process of issuing loans at lower interest rates so that these people can carry out their shrewd plans
Speaking about the quotient that is contributed by mini-hydro plants, Mr. Wijesinghe said that when the main energy requirement is 2500-2900 MW per day, these mini-hydro plants generate only around 5% of it. “This amount is negligible. During the times of the drought, this percentage reduces to less than 1%. There are around 190 mini-hydro plants in Sri Lanka but altogether they contribute only about 2.5-2.8%. Therefore this is not a sustainable solution.
It has been estimated that the Koskulana plant would only generate a minimal 0.6 MW which in other words is 600 KW. If you take an iron at home, it has a capacity of 1KW so this means that the Koskulana mini-hydro plant can generate energy to power-up 600 irons only. Political powerhouses are playing a game undercover and they do not know the consequences of such actions. Banks too are in the process of issuing loans at lower interest rates so that these people can carry out their shrewd plans.”
Source : 27/07/2016 Dailly Mirror : http://www.dailymirror.lk/113170/Koskulana-mini-hydro-power-project-A-disaster-for-ecological-diversity-#sthash.CX5d5luE.dpuf