Sirikit Dam
(Uttaradit Province)
Background
The Nan River is an important river after the Ping River, one among the four tributaries that form the Chao Phraya River. In order to gain full results for agriculture in the Chao Phraya Central Plains, it is necessary to build the dam on the Nan River to reduce flood problem and increase water in the Chao Phraya River basin.
Sirikit Dam or formerly known as “Pha Som Dam” is the largest earth-fill dam in Thailand. It was built across the Nan River at Khao Pha Som, Pha Leud Sub-district, Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province under the Nan River Basin Development Project of the Royal Irrigation Department. The construction started in 1986 and completed in 1972. Sirikit Dam helps to relieve flood in Nan River basin and together with Bhumibol Dam relieves flood in Chao Phraya Central Plains. With Sirikit Dam in the rainy season, there are irrigation areas in Nan River basin of 1,551,000 rai, in the dry season of 300,000 rai and in the Chao Phraya Central Plains of 2,500,000 rai totaling 2,800,000 rai. When dredging and dressing some parts of the Nan River, it can be used for a transport route from Nakhon Sawan to Uttaradit all year round. The reservoir of Sirikit Dam serves as a fish breeding and a tourist spot.
With the royal permission of His Majesty King Bhumibol, the name of the dam was changed to Sirikit Dam after Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on 24 May 1968. On 4 March 1977, the opening ceremony of the dam was performed by Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Characteristics of Dam
Type
Clay core earth fill dam
Reservoir capacity
9,510 million m3
Reservoir area
260 km2
Crest width
12 m
Crest length
810 m
Height
113.60 m
Sirikit Dam is the largest earth fill dam in the country. Its reservoir capacity ranks the third after Srinagarind Dam and Bhumibol Dam.
Characteristics of Power Plant
Structure
Reinforced concrete
500 MW
Annual generated electricity
approximately
1,000 million kWh
