Impounds Huay Kaosan River | Opening date 1994 Type of dam Cement Irrigation Dam Height 17 m | |
Location Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province Owner Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand | ||
Hua Na Dam is the biggest dam in the Khong-Chi-Mun project in Thailand. It is close to the Rasi Salai Dam, which has been inoperable for over 10 years because of extreme salinity. Hua Na sits atop the same salt dome as Rasi Salai and may face the same fate if the gates are ever closed. Its height is 17 metres (56 ft), while its length is 207 metres (679 ft). It has 14 gates and a catchment area of 115,000,000 cubic metres (93,000 acre·ft). The reservoir stretches for 90 kilometres (56 mi), while its surface area is unknown.
It exceeded its budget of 1.5 billion Thai Baht, costing 2.5 billion.
Opponents note that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed before construction, leaving concerns about flooding and salinity unresolved. Clay resources, which are a primary occupation for many villagers, would be endangered if the dam gates closed.