Background

Nam Pung Dam is a project in the Lower Mekong River Development Project. The National Energy Authority started to conduct a survey of the project in 1959. The Japanese government gave assistance of approximately 30 million yen to the project through the Committee for Coordination of Investigation of the Lower Mekong Basin (Mekong Committee). According to the survey, Nam Pung Dam project would be beneficial in electricity generation, flood protection, and irrigation.

At the end of 1962, the government approved the contracting of Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., a Japanese company to make a detailed survey for construction and design which was completed in June 1962.

Nam Pung Dam was built across 2 streams flowing down from Phu Phan hill chain, i.e., Phung River and Khae River. The dam is located at Kham Pherm waterfall in Ban Kham Pherm, Khok Phu Sub-district, Kut Bak District, Sakon Nakhon Province. (Presently is under Phu Phan District, located at a distance of 33 km from the town of Sakon Nakhon by the route of Sakon Nakhon- Kalasin Highway).

The preparation work for construction took place in 1962-1963. The construction of the dam and the power plant started in February 1964 and was completed in October 1965.

The dam was officially opened by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great on November 14, 1965. The total cost of the construction was 110 million Baht. The dam was handed over by the National Energy Authority to the Northeastern Electricity Authority (NEA) in 1969 and subsequently to EGAT up to now.