Ōigawa Dam
The Ōigawa Dam is a dam on the Ōi River in Haibara District, Kawanehon, Shizuoka Prefecture on the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a hydroelectric power generating station owned by the Chubu Electric Power Company.
History
The potential of the Ōi River valley for hydroelectric power development was realized by the Meiji government at the start of the 20th century. The Ōi River was characterized by a high volume of flow and a fast current. Its mountainous upper reaches and tributaries were areas of steep valleys and abundant rainfall, and were sparsely populated.In 1906, a joint venture company, the Anglo-Japanese Hydroelectric Company was established, and began studies and design work on plans to exploit the potential of the Ōi River and Fuji River in Shizuoka Prefecture. The British interests were bought out by 1921. The Ōigawa Dam was the second dam to be constructed on the main stream of the Ōi River. Construction began in 1934 and was completed in 1936. Electrical production was nationalized under the aegis of the Japan Electric Generation and Transmission Company in 1938, which was divided after World War II into regional power corporations. The Oikawa Dam is now operated and maintained by the Chubu Electric Power Company.