Ameroro Dam To Prevent Konawe Floods Targeted To Be Completed November 2023

The construction of the Ameroro Dam in Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra). (Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has accelerated the construction of the Ameroro Dam for flood control in Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).

Head of the Sulawesi IV River Basin Center (BWS) Kendari Ministry of PUPR Agus Safari said the Ameroro Dam has a capacity of 98.81 million m3 which is also projected to meet the raw water needs of 0.51 m3/second.

The supply of water storage for the Ameroro Dam is also projected to provide raw water for nickel industrial areas that are developing in Konawe.

The Ameroro Dam has the main function of reducing flooding in the Konawe area by 443 m3/second.

The dam, which is located in Tamesandi Village, Konawe Regency, is part of the management of the Lasolo Konaweha River area which is then accommodated by dams to reduce the risk of flooding downstream in Southeast Sulawesi Province.

"The Ameroro Dam also has the potential to add irrigation area services covering an area of 3,363 hectares in Konawe Regency. It is hoped that the irrigation water supply from the dam can help farmers increase their planting intensity when compared to the rainshed method which is only once a year," Agus Safari said in his official statement, quoted Friday, March 10.

The Ameroro Dam began working in December 2020 at a state budget cost of IDR 1.6 trillion.

The construction of the Ameroro Dam is carried out in 2 work packages, namely Package I by contractor PT Wijaya Karya-PT Sumber Cahaya Agung-PT Basuki Rahmanta Putra (KSO) and Package II PT Hutama Karya- PT Adhi Karya (KSO).

"Currently, the construction progress has reached 71 percent with the target of completion in November 2023," said Agus.

The Ameroro Dam is included in the list of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in accordance with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 109 of 2020 to increase the number of water storage in Southeast Sulawesi in order to support food security programs and water availability.

Meanwhile, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the dam construction was aimed at increasing the volume of water storage, so that irrigation water supply to agricultural land was maintained, providing raw water, and flood control.

"The construction of the dam is followed by the construction of an irrigation network. Thus, dams built at large costs can provide tangible benefits, where water will flow to farmers' fields," he added.