Bulango Ulu Dam Nears Completion, Set to Bolster Food and Water Security in Gorontalo
Dams serve as vital infrastructure for maintaining water availability, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing flood risks. In Gorontalo, this role is expected to be strengthened through the Bulango Ulu Dam, which is now entering the final stages of construction.
PT Brantas Abipraya (Persero) noted that the construction progress of the Bulango Ulu Dam in Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province, has reached 94.99 per cent. Once operational, the dam is projected to support food security, water security, flood control, and the provision of new renewable energy.
Brantas Abipraya Corporate Secretary, Dian Sovana, stated that the Bulango Ulu Dam is one of the infrastructures expected to meet the water needs of the agricultural sector and the community in Gorontalo.
“This is projected to become essential infrastructure in supporting food security, water security, flood control, as well as the provision of new renewable energy in Gorontalo,” Dian said in a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday (2’16/6/2026).
Water availability is a crucial factor in maintaining agricultural productivity. The Bulango Ulu Dam has a storage capacity of 140.95 million cubic metres with an effective volume of 58.61 million cubic metres. This infrastructure will irrigate approximately 4,950 hectares of farmland through the Alale, Lomaya, and Pilohayanga irrigation areas.
With a more stable water supply, farmers are expected to increase planting intensity while reducing the risk of crop failure due to water shortages during the dry season.
In addition to supporting the agricultural sector, the dam will also provide 2.2 cubic metres per second of raw water for domestic and industrial needs. An adequate raw water supply is a key factor in supporting regional economic growth and improving the quality of life for the community.
The function of the dam is not limited to water provision. The presence of the Bulango Ulu Dam is also projected to be able to reduce flood risks in the downstream areas of the Bolango River by more than 80 per cent. Flood control is considered vital to protecting settlements, farmland, and economic activities from potential losses due to disasters.
In the energy sector, the Bulango Ulu Dam will support a micro-hydro power plant (PLTMH) with a capacity of 4.96 megawatts. Utilising water flow as a renewable energy source can assist in providing more environmentally friendly electricity.
The reservoir area also has the potential to be developed as a destination for tourism and water sports. Developing this area presents opportunities to create new economic activities that can benefit the surrounding community.
Dian stated that the accelerated completion of the Bulango Ulu Dam aligns with the government’s efforts to strengthen food and water security. According to her, the benefits of the dam will not only be felt upon completion but also in the long term through increased agricultural productivity, water provision, flood risk reduction, and regional economic development.
“Through its accelerated completion, we hope this dam can increase agricultural productivity, guarantee water availability, support new renewable energy, and drive the economic growth of the Gorontalo community,” said Dian.