Mbay Nagekoe Dam Almost Completed, Gibran: Expected To Become A New Economic Motor NTT

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka (left two) reviewed the construction of the Mbay/Lambo Dam in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Tuesday (6/5/2025). (ANTARA)

NAGEKO Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka emphasized the importance of accelerating the construction of the Mbay/Lambo Dam in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in order to support agricultural productivity, provide clean water, and control floods in the area.

This affirmation was conveyed by Gibran when directly observing the dam construction project on Tuesday afternoon, May 6, 2025, in a series of working visits to NTT. He assessed that the national strategic project must be completed immediately so that the benefits can be felt by the community immediately.

"This acceleration of development is important so that the benefits of dams can support productive agriculture, provide clean water, and reduce flood risk," said Vice President Gibran, quoted from ANTARA.

According to him, this project not only acts as a irrigation infrastructure, but also has the potential to become a center for new economic growth. For this reason, he asked related ministries and institutions to maximize development benefits by integrating local tourism development and community empowerment.

"This strategic project must be accompanied by strengthening the capacity of farmers, improving public services, and sustainable environmental management," he continued.

The Mbay/Lambo Dam is one of the 77 National Strategic Projects (PSN) listed in Presidential Regulation Number 12 of 2025 concerning the 2025 2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan' (RPJMN). Its construction began in September 2021 and is targeted for completion in 2026.

As of early May 2025, the progress of this dam construction has reached 80.40 percent. The dam, which was built on an inundation area of 587.61 hectares and is located in the 138.60 square kilometer Watershed (DAS) area, is designed to have a normal capacity of 52.89 million cubic meters. The total value of the project contract reached Rp1.47 trillion, divided into two work packages.

When operating later, this dam is expected to be able to supply irrigation water for an area of 6,240 hectares, provide raw water as much as 205 liters per second, and reduce the risk of flooding in the downstream area of 3,200 hectares.

In addition, this dam is designed to support the development of solar power plants (PLTS) with a capacity of up to 117.5 megawatts. Another potential is the development of new tourist destinations on Flores Island, especially in Nagekeo Regency.

During a visit to the location, Vice President Gibran was accompanied by the Governor of NTT Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, Regent Nagekeo Simplisius Donatus, Deputy Regent of Gonzalo Gratianus Muga Sada, and the ranks of the Nagekeo Regency Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).

The Vice President emphasized the importance of collaboration between the central and regional governments in ensuring project sustainability and optimizing its utilization in the future.