Wonorejo dam to cost more than $50 million

Wonorejo dam to cost more than $50 million

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar yesterday broke the ground for the construction of the second phase of a Rp 114 billion (US$51.63 million) multi-purpose dam in Wonorejo of East Java, which will have a capacity of 122 million cubic meters.

"The project, which is expected to be operational in 1998, is financed by the state budget and a loan from Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund," Radinal said at the ground-breaking ceremony in Wonorejo yesterday.

The Ministry of Public Works said in a statement issued yesterday that the dam, of which the first construction phase started last year, was among the 18 projects which are partly financed by Japan through its commitments in the World Bank- chaired Consultative Group for Indonesia in 1993-94.

Japan pledged a total of $1.44 billion in aid to Indonesia in 1993-94.

The dam is now being constructed by Kajima Co. and Taisei Corp. of Japan, in cooperation with PT Pembangunan Perumahan and PT Teguh Raksa Jaya.

"Upon its completion, the dam will provide water for Surabaya and its surrounding areas as well as supplying water for a new hydroelectric power plant near Surabaya," Radinal's statement read.

The construction of the dam was suspended in 1983 due to a lack of funds.(fhp)