Mbay NTT Dam Construction Progress Reaches 80.69 Percent, Completed December 2026

The Ministry of Public Works continues to accelerate the construction of the Mbay Dam in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in order to support national food security.

It is known, the progress of dam construction until the end of May 2025 has reached 80.69 percent, and is targeted for completion in December 2026.

PU Minister Dody Hanggodo emphasized that dam construction is an important part of the government's efforts to support national food security.

"We agree that water resource infrastructure is very important to achieve self-sufficiency in food. One example is the construction of a dam which is then channeled through a primary irrigation system, secondary to tertiary directly to agricultural land," said Dody as quoted from his written statement, Tuesday, June 3.

The construction of this water infrastructure itself has started since August 2021 by the Kupang Nusa Tenggara River Basin Center through two work packages with a contract value of Rp1.62 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, which was built in Rendubutowe Village, has a capacity of 52.89 million cubic meters.

Water from the dam will irrigate 6,240 hectares of agricultural land in the Irrigation Area (DI) of Mabay, including DIbay Kanan covering an area of 3,835 hectares and DI Mubay Kiri covering an area of 454 hectares and the potential for development in DI Mbay Kiri covering an area of 1,951 hectares.

The technical irrigation system designed will utilize the Aesesa River to ensure optimal water supply, thereby increasing the intensity of planting and harvesting each year.

Apart from being an irrigation source, the Mbay Dam will also supply raw water of 205 liters per second for the people of Nagekeo Regency and reduce the potential for flooding of the Aesesa River to 498.85 cubic meters per second. This is expected to reduce the risk of flooding in an area of 320 hectares.

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.