Cambodia Expands Irrigation, Water Security With Completion of Dauntri Dam

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 1, 2025) — Cambodia has completed the Dauntri Dam in Battambang, a major water project launched in 2018 that officials say will strengthen irrigation, reduce flood risks and bolster agricultural productivity across the northwest.

Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet announced the dam’s completion Dec. 1, noting it will supply irrigation for 33,000 hectares of farmland during the rainy season and 4,500 hectares in the dry season, benefiting thousands of households in Battambang and parts of Pursat. The reservoir will also support clean water supplies and help mitigate flooding in downstream communities.

The dam spans 11 communes in Moung Ruessei and Rukhak Kiri districts of Battambang and Bakan district of Pursat, with a storage capacity of 133 million cubic meters.

Its design includes a spillway to release water during heavy rainfall, a diversion tunnel to manage flows safely and an intake tower to regulate delivery for agriculture and daily use.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said the project reflects the government’s commitment to expanding water infrastructure under the Pentagonal Strategy, which prioritizes water security.

He emphasized that reservoirs like Dauntri are critical not only for boosting farm output but also for sustaining livelihoods and building resilience against climate impacts.