The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is building a massive dam on the outskirts of the city of Erbil to address water shortages, and develop farming and agriculture sectors in the wider Region.
"The Gomaspan Dam, set to be the largest dam in Erbil Governorate, is poised to become the third largest dam in the Kurdistan Region once completed, with an expected reservoir storage of 115 million cubic metres," read a statement released by the KRG on Wednesday.
Upon completion, the dam will play a pivotal role in raising underground water levels. It will provide water for 16,000 square metres of agricultural land and foster the development of fish farming."
The government has allocated 95 billion dinars for the project, which has already created job opportunities for at least 300 people with 75 percent of the workforce being locals. The dam is expected to be completed in the middle of next year.
"Constructed using Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC), the dam is 513.67 metres in length and stands 69.25 metres tall. It is projected to collect 47,839,000 cubic metres of water annually," the statement detailed.
In the Kurdistan Region, various dams, lakes, and rivers, namely Dukan Lake, Darbandikhan Lake, and Qandil River, have a vital role in providing water to the area. The government is actively engaged in initiatives to address drought and climate change challenges.
One key strategy is building new dams and reservoirs to increase water storage capacity. These infrastructure projects aim to boost agriculture, and support tourism development in the Region.