The Rantembe Dam (Sinhala: රංටැබේ වේල්ල) is a 52-megawatt hydroelectric gravity dam at Rantembe, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Construction of the dam began in January 1987, and was completed on schedule in April 1990. The dam was constructed by the German 'Joint Venture Randenigala'; a different German joint venture has built the Randenigala Dam, further upstream.

Rantembe Dam
රංටැබේ වේල්ල
Upstream view of the Rantembe Dam
Upstream view of the Rantembe Dam
CountrySri Lanka
LocationRantembe, Central Province
Coordinates07°12′00″N 80°57′00″E / 7.20000°N 80.95000°E / 7.20000; 80.95000
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction beganJanuary 1987 (1987-01)
Opening dateMay 1990 (1990-05)
Construction costRs. 4.077 billion (1990)
Owner(s)Mahaweli Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsMahaweli River
Height (foundation)42 m (138 ft)
Length420 m (1,378 ft)
Spillways4
Spillway typeTainter gate
Spillway capacity10,235 m3/s (361,446 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesRantembe Reservoir
Total capacity21,000,000 m3 (740,000,000 cu ft)
Active capacity4,400,000 m3 (160,000,000 cu ft)
Catchment area3,118 km2 (1,204 sq mi)
Operator(s)CEB
Turbines2 × 26 MW
Installed capacity52 MW
Annual generation180 GWh
http://www.mahawelicomplex.lk/rantdam.htm

Construction of the dam cost approximately Rs. 4.077 billion (1990), of which 34.7% (Rs. 1.050 billion) was funded by the Ceylon Electricity Board, with the majority of the remainder funded by Germany.[1]

Dam, reservoir, and power station

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The Rantembe Dam, located just 2.8 km (1.7 mi) downstream of the Randenigala Dam, measures 42 m (138 ft) in height, 420 m (1,378 ft) in length, and consists of 4 tainter gate spillways with a combined discharge capacity of 10,235 m3/s (361,446 cu ft/s).

The dam creates the relatively small Rantembe Reservoir, which has a catchment area of 3,118 km2 (1,204 sq mi), and a total capacity of 21,000,000 m3 (740,000,000 cu ft).

Water from the reservoir is channelled through the dam through a steel penstock to power the two 26-megawatt turbines. The power station's combined output of 52-megawatts generates 180 GWh annually.[1]

The Rantembe Reservoir.
The Rantembe Reservoir, with the Randenigala Dam in the background (upstream).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Rantembe Dam". Mawahweli Authority. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
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