President Jokowi Inaugurates Lolak Dam in N. Sulawesi

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurates the Lolak Dam in Bolaang Mongondow regency, North Sulawesi province, Friday (02/23). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Kris)

In a bid to tackle the challenges of water and energy management, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (02/23) inaugurated the Lolak Dam in Bolaang Mongondow regency, North Sulawesi province.

With an investment fund of Rp2.02 trillion, the Lolak Dam is expected to address local water scarcity and flood control issues, while also serving as a blueprint for efficient water resource management across Indonesia.

“In the future, water and energy issues will become major challenges if we don’t start managing them effectively now. Indonesia has 4,400 rivers but only has 292 dams. To give you an idea, China has 98 thousand dams, and South Korea has approximately 20 thousand dams,” the President said.

The development of the Lolak Dam with a capacity of 16 million cubic meters capacity and is designed to irrigate 2,200 hectares of agricultural land shows a significant effort in addressing this disparity.

According to the President, the dam is projected to reduce the risk of flooding in the surrounding area by up to 29 percent, representing a significant improvement over previous conditions.

The President also underscored that the dam contributes to energy production through ecohydro electricity, further bolstering Bolaang Mongondow’s role as the rice granary of North Sulawesi province.

“The dam serves as raw water source for the residents of Bolaang Mongondow, effectively reducing flooding by up to 29 percent. With the presence of the dam, the impact of previous floods could potentially be mitigated by 29 percent, in addition to its contribution to ecohydro electricity,” he explained, while adding that the significance of managing water resources in Indonesia becomes more evident that way.

“If we have dams of similar capacity in other provinces and districts, we can effectively manage water resources across the country, ensuring they are as beneficial as the Lolak Dam,” he added.

Those dams will not only enhance water and energy availability but also ensure that Indonesia is better equipped to confront future challenges with more sustainable resources.

With further infrastructure development like the Lolak Dam, it is hoped that Indonesia can effectively manage its resources, support the agricultural sector, mitigate the risk of natural disasters, and promote clean energy production for all its citizens. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (RIF/MMB)