The establishment of the Lolak Dam in Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sumatra province, on February 23, 2024, by President Joko Widodo marks a significant moment in Indoensia's efforts to address the challenges of water and energy management in future.
With an investment of 2.02 trillion IDR, the Lolak Dam is expected to serve as a local solution for water shortages and flood control and also as a model for efficient water resource management in Indonesia.
In his address, President Jokowi emphasized that water and energy would become major concerns requiring immediate actions, especially for Indonesia, which only has 292 dams to manage water across more than 4,400 rivers.
Benefits of the Lolak Dam
The Lolak Dam is of considerable size, with a capacity of up to 16.23 million cubic meters. It will serve irrigation for agricultural lands covering 2,214 hectares, supply raw water at 500 liters per second, and floods by up to 29.42 percent.
Additionally, the Lolak dam will function as a micro-hydro power plant with a capacity of 2.43 megawatts (MW). it also holds potential to become a new tourist destination in the Bolaang Mongondow region.
The presence of the Lolak Dam reflects the Indonesian government's attention to the importance of water resource management for societal well-being. This dam also adds to Indonesia's array of large-capacity dams.
A Sustainable Future
President Jokowi believes that the construction of the Lolak Dam will not only increase water and energy availability but also ensure that Indonesia can fase future challenges with more sustainable resources.
In line with Indonesia's leadership spirit in the 10th World Water Forum, the government invites all parties to collaborate in building water infrastructures. Cooperation between developed and developing countries is necessary to overcome the limitations.
President Jokowi hopes that with the construction of infrastructure like the Lolak Dam, the country will be able to manage water more effectively, support agriculture, reduce the risks of natural disaster and advance clean energy production.