“Water is the most important factor in agriculture. Even though soil may not be good enough or there are some obstacles in other aspects, if the problem of water source for cultivation can be solved, other things will be better and follow”

Part of the speech of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great delivered to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the occasion of the opening of Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam on February 27, 1986

Due to the great flood in 1973 at Intha Khin Sub-district and Chor Lae Sub-district, Chiang Mai Province, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great had initiated the construction of “Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam” to give benefits for irrigation to local villagers, flood mitigation in the irrigation areas at the end of reservoir, as well as electricity generation.

Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam is under the Project of Water Source Development in the North, one of the Royal Initiative Projects, with the cooperation between EGAT and the Royal Irrigation Department. The Royal Irrigation Department is responsible for building the dam and appurtenant structures, whereas EGAT is responsible for constructing the power plant and transmission lines. The construction of the project began in 1977. The dam construction was completed in 1984.

Later, EGAT constructed the hydropower plant in 1983 and was completed in 1985. The dam was renamed “Mae Ngat Somboon Chon” by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great on January 16, 1986. On February 22, 1986, the King performed the inauguration of the dam. At present, the power plant has contractual generating capacity of 9 MW.