HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday inaugurated the Kargu Dam in the Belait District.

The Kargu Dam project, which was built at a cost of B$34,836,792.45, is aimed at increasing the capacity of water supply for the Belait District and minimising the risk of water shortages during the dry season.

It will also enable further development as demand for water increases. Scope of work for the construction of the Kargu Dam includes the building of two-lane main access road, concrete-lined diversion tunnel, reinforced concreted draw-off tower, earth fill embankment dam and spillway structure.

In addition, the Public Works Department (PWD) stated that the Kargu Reservoir operates as a regulating reservoir and releases water into the Kargu River or Belait River when the natural flow at Badas is insufficient to meet the required demand. Kargu Dam is solely for the storage of water. PWD is currently studying the feasibility of Ulu Belait Dam, and if it should be constructed, then it will be the largest dam in Brunei.

Upon arrival earlier at the Kargu Dam, HRH the Crown Prince were greeted by YB Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Development; YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources; and YB Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awg Hj Mohammad Yasmin bin Hj Umar, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office.

HRH the Crown Prince consented to sign the inauguration plaque and also visited a number of facilities around the Kargu Dam, including a tour on boat. He then consented to plant a tree in front of the Control Building and signed a Visit Parchment. - Borneo Bulletin (24 March 2013)