The Cabinet approved the implementation of the project to upgrade Sirikit Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Unit 4, along with the green light to improve the eastern Chao Phraya irrigation system to address recurring drought and flood problems in eight provinces of the Chao Phraya basin.
On 15 September 2026, Ms. Ploytale Lakshamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that the Cabinet resolved to approve the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to proceed with the upgrade project for Sirikit Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Unit 4, with a total investment of 2,088.56 million baht.
Ms. Ploytale explained that Sirikit Dam is an earth-core dam constructed on the Nan River at Khao Phasom, Pha Lueat Subdistrict, Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province. The dam serves multiple purposes including water management for agriculture, flood mitigation, and electricity generation. The dam is equipped with four generating units, each with a capacity of 125 megawatts, totaling 500 megawatts, producing an average of 1,018.12 million units of electricity annually.
Currently, Sirikit Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Unit 4 is about 31 years old (as of 2026), nearing the end of its service life because the electrical equipment is deteriorating below the threshold for safe operation. Therefore, EGAT has conducted a feasibility study for the upgrade project, focusing on necessary, appropriate, and critical equipment to ensure the plant’s readiness and reliability in power production, while emphasizing cost-effectiveness and investment value.
EGAT is carrying out the upgrade project of Sirikit Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant Unit 4 with a total investment of 2,088.56 million baht. The plant is approaching the end of its service life (about 31 years), with many components deteriorated due to usage time, and some parts no longer available for maintenance, raising significant risks to power production.
The feasibility study found that extending the plant’s life by upgrading and replacing mechanical equipment (such as turbines, speed control devices, and inlet valves) and electrical and control systems (such as the electromagnetic excitation generator and main power transformer) appropriately will reduce maintenance costs and extend the plant’s life by at least 30 years. This will also lower investment costs, resulting in reduced production costs. The upgrade will increase electricity generation from 242.42 million units per year to 251.28 million units per year.
The total operating cost for the upgrade project is 2,088.56 million baht. EGAT will consider domestic funding sources, including raising funds through infrastructure mutual funds, issuing domestic investment bonds, and utilizing EGAT’s revenues primarily.
Meanwhile, Second Lieutenant Phatdarasmi Thongsaluaikorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, through the Royal Irrigation Department, to implement the “Lower Eastern Chao Phraya Irrigation System Improvement Project” with a total budget of 95 billion baht over six years (fiscal years 2027-2032) to enhance floodwater management efficiency and sustainably resolve repeated flooding in the Chao Phraya basin.
The key details of the project include a total budget of 95 billion baht, consisting of 76.50729 billion baht in loans (80.53%) and 18.49271 billion baht in annual budget expenditure (19.47%). The project will be executed in two phases to maintain fiscal status and manage land risk.
Phase 1, with a budget of 40.507 billion baht, will accelerate excavation and expansion of north-south canals to directly discharge water into the Gulf of Thailand, including Rapeepat Canal, South Branch of Rapeepat Canal, Canal 13, Nakorn Nueang Khet Canal, Prince Chai Anuchit Canal, Samrong Canal, and Dan Canal, focusing on areas ready and free of encroachment issues. Phase 2, with a budget of 54.493 billion baht, will continue construction in remaining areas sequentially.
The Deputy Government Spokesperson stated that the project covers a network of 22 main irrigation canals totaling approximately 460 kilometers and 23 water control structures across eight provinces: Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, and Bangkok. It will increase the capacity to intake water into Rapeepat Canal from 210 to 400 cubic meters per second and improve drainage to the Gulf of Thailand via coastal canals to 144 cubic meters per second.
Upon completion, the project is expected to reduce average annual flood damage by 10 billion baht, protect more than 258,000 rai of community and key economic areas from flooding, and increase stored water for consumption during the dry season by over 17 million cubic meters per year.