Myanmar's Ponglong Dam opens spillway due to water overflow

MGR Online•International•13d ago

Reader Briefing

The Lower Ponglong Dam in Naypyidaw opened its spillway on August 31, 2026, after water levels reached full capacity.

•The Lower Ponglong Dam opened its spillway at 07:00 on August 31, 2026.
•Water was released at a rate of 2,050 cubic feet per second as of 08:45.
•The site near Ponglong Dam is expected to be the location for a 110 MW nuclear power plant by Rosatom.
•Water levels in the Sittaung River at Madauk have already exceeded the danger level.

•The Lower Ponglong Dam opened its spillway to release water from the reservoir starting at 07:00 on August 31, 2026.
•The Department of Irrigation and Water Management reported a discharge rate of 2,050 cubic feet per second at 08:45 on August 31, 2026.
•The Ponglong Dam and its spillway are reported to be in strong condition with water being released systematically.
•Rosatom, a Russian state nuclear energy enterprise, is scheduled to begin constructing a 110 MW nuclear power plant near Ponglong Dam next year.
•The Lower Ponglong Dam has opened its spillway 19 times in its 22-year history, with the longest continuous release lasting 118 days in 2023.
•As of 06:30 on August 31, 2026, the Sittaung River level at Madauk was 1,156 centimeters, exceeding the danger level of 1,070 centimeters.
•The Ponglong Dam blocks the Sittaung River, which flows south through Taungoo and Bago before reaching the Andaman Sea at Gulf of Mottama.
•The Middle Ponglong Power Plant is currently under construction and is expected to be completed and begin electricity production in 2027.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Ponglong Dam(เขื่อนปองลอง)

A dam blocking the Sittaung River located in Siyasiri, Naypyidaw.

Naypyidaw(กรุงเนปิดอว์)ℹ️

The city where the Ponglong Dam is located.

Sittaung River(แม่น้ำสะโตง)ℹ️

The river blocked by Ponglong Dam that flows into the Andaman Sea.

Taungoo(เมืองตองอู)ℹ️

A city through which the Sittaung River flows.

Bago(เมืองพะโค)

A city through which the Sittaung River flows.

Gulf of Mottama(อ่าวเมาะตะมะ)ℹ️

The location where the Sittaung River enters the Andaman Sea.

Madauk(เมืองมะเด้าก์)ℹ️

A city downstream from the dam where river levels have exceeded the danger threshold.

Siyasiri(เมืองเซยาสิริ)

The city where Ponglong Dam is situated.

Mae Hong Son Province(จังหวัดแม่ฮ่องสอน)ℹ️

A Thai province located 148 kilometers east of Ponglong Dam.

Pinmana(เมืองปินมะนา)ℹ️

A city near the Upper and Middle Ponglong Power Plants.

Myanmar(เมียนมา)ℹ️

The country where the Ponglong Dam and planned nuclear plant are located.

Eleven Media Groupℹ️

A news reporting organization.

Department of Irrigation and Water Management(กรมชลประทานและบริหารจัดการน้ำ)

The government body providing water level and discharge reports for Ponglong Dam.

Rosatomℹ️

A Russian state nuclear energy enterprise that will begin building a nuclear power plant in Myanmar next year.