Indonesia
Mbay Dam Construction Reaches 80.69%, Supporting Food Security in NTT
Jakarta - The Ministry of Public Works continues to boost the completion of the Mbay Dam construction located in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT). As of the end of May 2025, the dam construction progress has reached 80.69% and is targeted for completion in December 2026.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo emphasized the importance of water resources infrastructure in supporting national food security. "We agree that water resources infrastructure is very important to achieve food self-sufficiency. One example is the construction of dams which are then channeled through primary, secondary, and tertiary irrigation systems directly to agricultural land," said Minister Dody.
The construction of the Mbay Dam began in August 2021 by the Nusa Tenggara II River Basin Center in Kupang, through two work packages with a contract value of IDR 1.62 trillion. Package I was carried out by PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk - Bumi Indah (KSO), while Package II was carried out by PT Brantas Abipraya.
The dam has a storage capacity of 52.89 million m³ and is designed to irrigate the Mbay Irrigation Area (DI) of 6,240 hectares, consisting of DI Mbay Kanan covering 3,835 ha and DI Mbay Kiri covering 454 ha as well as potential development in DI Mbay Kiri covering 1,951 hectares. The designed technical irrigation system will utilize the flow of the Aesesa River to ensure optimal water supply, so as to increase planting intensity and crop yields each year.
In addition to being a source of irrigation, Mbay Dam will also supply raw water of 205 liters/second for the people of Nagekeo Regency, as well as reduce the flood potential of the Aesesa River to 498.85 m³/second. This is expected to reduce the risk of flooding in an area of 320 hectares.
Mbay Dam is located in Rendubutowe Village, South Aesesa District, about 30 kilometers from Nagekeo City center. The completion of the dam, which will be equipped with an irrigation network, is expected to support President Prabowo Subianto's vision in realizing food self-sufficiency and water self-sufficiency in Indonesia. (Tri)
