Following Gomespan, new dam in Garmian to generate power, support agriculture, and protect against desertification.
Building on the success of the Gomespan Dam, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced the construction of the Bawa Nur Dam in Garmian, a project expected to enhance water security, generate electricity, and revitalize the local agricultural sector.
The Gomespan Dam, located in Erbil Governorate, is the third-largest in the Kurdistan Region. Standing 70 meters high and stretching 512 meters in length, it cost 95 billion Iraqi dinars to complete and can collect 115 million cubic meters of rainwater. The project also marked the first use of Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) in dam construction across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Water security has remained a strategic priority for the Ninth Cabinet. The KRG continues to implement projects like these to ensure a sustainable water supply and protect citizens’ livelihoods.
The Bawa Nur Dam, scheduled for completion within two years, will be the first dam in Garmian capable of generating hydroelectric power. It will produce 34 megawatts of electricity, store 30 million cubic meters of water, and protect the area from desertification. Measuring 880 meters in length, 20 meters in height, and 9 meters wide at its crest, the dam is being constructed with local labor and expertise.
Officials say the project will also boost the agricultural sector, increase fish production, and help replenish groundwater levels, providing lasting benefits for the region’s economy and environment.
Currently, the Kurdistan Region operates eight strategic dams and dozens of ponds, which collectively store vast volumes of water that also contribute to Iraq’s total water resources. Rahman Khani, Director of Dams in the Kurdistan Region, noted that this year’s heavy rainfall has replenished reservoirs, storing 250 million cubic meters locally and enabling Iraq to retain 700 million cubic meters of water. He added that the lowest water level was recorded at the Duhok Dam, where less than one million cubic meters was collected.
With the addition of the Bawa Nur Dam, the KRG aims to further strengthen the region’s water infrastructure and ensure sustainable development for years to come.