Sirindhorn Dam

The Sirindhorn Dam is in Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand.[3] It impounds the Lam Dom Noi River, and its reservoir is the province's largest water resource. The dam was commissioned in 1971 to serve as a hydropower facility as well as to supply irrigation water. The dam was named after Princess Royal Sirindhorn. All of the electricity generated by the dam is destined for domestic markets. The dam was constructed and is owned and operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and is located in the Mekong River Basin, just upstream from the controversial Pak Mun Dam.

Sirindhorn Dam
Downstream face of dam
Location of Sirindhorn Dam in Thailand
Official name	Sirindhorn Dam
Country	Thailand
Location	Sirindhorn, Ubon Ratchathani
Coordinates	15°12′22.82″N 105°25′44.96″E
Construction began	1968
Opening date	1971
Owner(s)	Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Earth core rockfill dam
Impounds	Dom Noi River
Height	42 m (138 ft)
Length	940 m (3,080 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Sirindhorn Reservoir
Total capacity	1,966,000,000 m3 (1,593,862 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	2,097 km2 (810 sq mi)
Surface area	288 km2 (111 sq mi)[1]
Maximum length	43 km (27 mi)
Maximum water depth	Average: 5.1 m (17 ft)[2]
Power Station
Operator(s)	Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
Installed capacity	36 MW
Annual generation	90 GWh

Some 2,000 villagers were resettled to make way for the dam's reservoir. Many claim they did not receive adequate compensation for the loss of their livelihood and only received compensation for 80% of their land. Furthermore, they claim that the land in the resettlement village is of poor quality and few crops can be grown, and that a proposed irrigation canal was never built.[4]

The reservoir and dam power the Sirindhorn Hydropower Plant, which has an installed capacity of 3 units of 12,000 kilowatts each and annual energy production of 90 GWh.[5] Floating solar panels were installed in 2021, increasing the power to 45 MW.[6][7]

There is a park near the dam headquarters and a restaurant and bungalows for visitors.[8] There is a golf course in this area also, at the north end of the lake.[9]