View Full Version : Mekong Dams
HYDRO POWER
Plan for massive dam on Mekong
Published on November 4, 2007
Project likely to draw protests from neighbours, academic warns
The Energy Ministry is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River which could be opposed by countries downstream.
The proposed dam in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani would power a 1,800-megawatt generator for an estimated investment of Bt90 billion.
Prof Prakob Virojkut, president of Ubon Ratchathani University, said the project would be likely to face several major obstacles, especially opposition from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Building the massive structure on the Mekong, an international river, would affect the flow of water and hinder river transport as well as the ecosystem, according to Prakob.
"However, we should wait for the study's findings to see if there are more pros than cons. It won't be easy to implement such a massive scheme since there would be a wide range of impacts domestically and internationally," he said, adding that Laos might be the first nation to oppose the idea because the project would affect its sales of electricity to Thailand.
Panya Consultant and Mako Consultant have been commissioned to carry out the feasibility study on the dam project and complete it by April.
Pinyo Boonyong, president of the Phonaklang Sub-district Administrative Organisation, Khong Jiam, Ubon Ratchatani province, said little information on the scheme had been given to local residents so far.
He said other sub-districts on the banks of the Mekong had only recently been told of the project by the ministry's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).
They are Huay Phai in Khong Jiam district and Samrong, Phosai and Nhamtang in Sri Moung Mai district.
"Most villagers who live on the Mekong would be negative about such a project, as was the case 17 years ago with the construction of the Pak Moon Dam. If the government went ahead with this project, there would be local residents opposing it due to their previous negative experience.
"In the past couple of years, China has started building dams upstream on the Mekong. Many people have since complained that there is now less water for agriculture, because lots of water is diverted for electricity generation by the Chinese," he said.
Pinyo said the government would also have to thoroughly consider compensation and resettlement programmes for affected villagers if it went ahead with the scheme.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/04/headlines/headlines_30054816.php
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/04/headlines/headlines_30054816.php
Well, the following report talks about Cambodia complaining to Laos. That said, the Mekong is also the border between Thailand and Laos for a considerable distance - so it is almost inevitable that Cambodia is also complaining about future dam projects in which Thailand already has a major stake:
Cambodia raps Laos over Mekong dams
Siem Reap, Cambodia (dpa) - After facing the wrath of environmental groups earlier this week, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) member countries engaged in their own battles Thursday during a meeting of the four-member body with donors and observers.
Although the meetings were closed to media, Cambodian delegates made their frustration with what they called neighbouring Laos' lack of transparency clear outside as tensions over six proposed hydro- electric dams in a number of countries on the lower Mekong mounted.
Scientists said in May they feared Laos' proposed dams in particular could destroy fish migration and spawning, decimating the catch people in MRC member countries Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam rely on and causing irreversible environmental damage.
"We sent an official letter to Laos months ago to voice our concern and ask for an explanation, but so far we have received no answer," vice chairman of the Cambodian National Mekong Committee, Sin Niny, told Deutche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Cambodian MRC representative Lim Kean Hor said the MRC was a complicated organization which relied on cooperation from members and donors - which include energy-hungry China - to reach consensus. However, that cooperation may be fraying in some areas, he added.
"At the moment this is just an initiative by Laos. When they begin to build them we will stop them," he said, saying the MRC needed independent expert studies of environmental impact assessments.
The six dams across the Lower Mekong River are currently in the planning stages, more than a decade after they were dismissed as too costly and environmentally damaging, non-government organizations said in a press conference in Bangkok earlier this week.
At least one is believed to be the project of a powerful Lao politician's son, raising questions about whether the environment is taking a backseat to money, one environmentalist said on condition of anonymity, adding now was the time for the MRC to stand up.
"Since early 2006, Thai, Malaysian and Chinese companies have been granted permission to conduct feasibility studies for six large hydropower dams on the lower Mekong mainstream," they said in a press statement.
China delegate Biao Ling Sheng, however, urged a balance of development and conservation Thursday as that country announced continued strong funding for the MRC. "We need sustainable conservational development," he said.
In the end, however, the onus remained on the MRC to prove its role as a strong, independent forum for member countries and other interested parties to raise concerns which was transparent and had teeth, World Conservation Union representative Kate Lazarus said.
"The role of local communities should be given a higher priority by the MRC. There is some important information which is not being made public by the MRC," the Laos-based representative said.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=123623
Well, the following report talks about Cambodia complaining to Laos. That said, the Mekong is also the border between Thailand and Laos for a considerable distance - so it is almost inevitable that Cambodia is also complaining about future dam projects in which Thailand already has a major stake:
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=123623
Activists urge MRC to halt dam projects on Mekong River
15/11/2007 -- 11:50 AM
Bangkok (VNA) – Over 200 social and environmental groups from 30 countries have asked Southeast Asia's Mekong River Commission (MRC) to speak out against six potential dams planned for the vital waterway.
In a letter sent to the MRC head on November 13, the groups said they were worried that the plans to build the six dams, four in Laos, one in Cambodia and another on the Lao-Thai border, could be renewed, and that the MRC had failed to carry out adequate environmental impact assessments or consult people affected by the dams.
The groups warned that they would call on all the donors of the MRC to review immediately their support to the MRC if the commission fails to protect the river. –Enditem
http://www.vnanet.vn/Home/EN/tabid/119/itemid/223150/Default.aspx
Chinese firm seeks approval for hydro project on Mekong
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
Vientiane Times Publication Date: 13-12-2007
A Chinese company is considering building a hydropower plant on the Mekong River some 250 kms north of Vientiane and is conducting a feasibility study to determine the project's viability.
The Hong Kong-based Da Tang International Power Generation Co Ltd has received the green light from the government to conduct the feasibility study for the installation of a large-capacity hydropower plant on the Mekong River in Xanakham district, Vientiane province, according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Company President, Mr Zhou Gang, and the Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment,Thongmy Phommixay.
The MoU signing ceremony took place on Tuesday (Dec 11) at the Lao Plaza Hotel in Vientiane, witnessed by a number of Chinese guests and high-ranking government officials.
The Chinese company will spend 30 months conducting the survey before submitting the results to the government for consideration and approval.
Zhou Gang said he was happy the company had been given permission by the Lao government to conduct the feasibility study and pointed out that the firm had had a lot of experience in this field.
He also said the company had received good cooperation from the Lao government, which reflected the good relationship between Laos and China. The two countries shared mountains, rivers and a border, and he was happy that the company had been given the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Lao economy.
An official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, who declined to be named, said that this was just the first step in the acceptance process. The government would set up a committee to investigate the study to see whether the power plant would have any social or environmental impacts, how much land would need to be flooded and how many residents would need to be resettled.
"If the company can prove that such a power plant will have positive rather than negative impacts, the government will approve the project and allow the construction to proceed," he said.
He said the plant would have a capacity of more than 1,000 megawatts due to the strong downstream current, and the investors should consider it to be highly profitable.
He said the company would ensure there would be no upstream flooding of the Mekong, and that boats would still be able to navigate the river in both directions.
If approved, this would be the second approval granted to the Da Tang International Power Generation Co Ltd for a feasibility study; the first was given two months ago for a study on a section of the Mekong near Paklai district, Xayaboury province.
http://www.asianewsnet.net/biz.php?aid=13947
http://www.vnanet.vn/Home/EN/tabid/119/itemid/223150/Default.aspx
Thailand, Laos to develop hydropower project
BANGKOK, March 23 (TNA) – Foreign minister Noppadol Pattama will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a joint hydropower project between Thailand and Laos during his trip to Laos on Tuesday March 25.
The joint project of both countries is to study and develop the Baankum barrage, which is located on the Mekong River between Khong Chiam district in Ubon Ratchathani and Champasak in Laos.
Laotian prime minister Bouasone Bouphavanh initially agreed to a feasibility study to be conducted first and there was no commitment on concession.
If the project goes ahead, the Baankum barrage will be a major electric power generation source for Thailand.
Speaking on Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej’s visit to Vietnam on
Monday meanwhile, the foreign minister said Mr. Samak’s visit was aimed at introducing himself and to strengthen relations with the neighbouring country.
Social Development and Human Security Minister Sutha Chansaeng, who will accompany the prime minister on the visit, was set to sign a Thai –Vietnam Memorandum of Understanding on human trafficking. (TNA) – E 004
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=3417
Thailand, Laos agree to build dams in Mekong river
(KPL) Thailand and Laos have signed agreements to construct three dams where the Mekong river passes through Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai and Loei provinces, said Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on May 25.
According to VNA, once completed, the three dams will help retain water in the Mekong river, enabling Thai and Lao villagers who live on both sides of the river to have sufficient water for the whole year, PM Samak added.
He said he believed in the feasibility of the idea of diverting water from the Nam Ngum river in Laos through underground pipelines to feed Thailand 's northeastern people, for the reason that the Lao river is located on a higher ground than Thailand 's northeastern region.
The Thai PM also revealed a government project to divert water from the Mekong river to feed the water-starved northeastern region.
Water from the Mekong river in Chiang Khan district of Loei province would first be diverted for storing at Ubolratana Dam in Khon Kaen for agricultural production. The two provinces are 80 kilometres apart.
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn10.htm
Wisarut
28-05-08, 11:33 AM
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn10.htm
Well, it's a revival of the dams on the mekhong even thogh tehy would not be as big as the original proposed Pha Mong Dam at Sri chiang Mai.
Academics in bid to stop mekong plan
By Pennapa Hongthong
The Nation
Published on May 29, 2008
The prime minister's idea to push ahead with the Mekong River water-diversion project and to build three hydro-electric dams in the Northeast region has caused concern among social science academics who yesterday came up with a statement opposing the plan.
In an open letter to the prime minister, 18 academics together with 95 environmental and community organisations demanded the government suspend any agreement related to the issue it has signed with the Laos government unless information about the projects is disclosed and public opinion is gathered.
The academics also called for feasibility studies on all water diversions and dam construction projects.
"The utilisation of Mekong River must be in line with sustainable development for the sake of the people in all downstream countries, not only for the sake of Thailand," said the letter.
In his weekly television show "Talk Samak Style" last Sunday, premier Samak Sundaravej said he had decided to push ahead with the controversial plan in which water from the Mekong in Laos would be diverted to Loei province and then stored in the Ubonrattana Dam in Khon Kaen province. Three dams would be constructed in Loei, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani.
Samak said an agreement between Thailand and Laos had been signed.
The premier said it should not be a big problem for downstream countries to utilise the international river as China had already built several dams to block the river upstream.
Prapas Pintobtaeng, a political scientist from Chulalongkorn University, said the government should learn from the negative consequences of China's dam construction on Thai communities and not repeat it.
"Villagers in Chiang Rai, whose lives depend on the Mekong, almost lost their livelihood as water levels in the river have fluctuated as a result of the dams in China," he said.
Initiated by the state for more than a decade, the Mekong water-diversion project has faced strong opposition from environmentalists and society due to its potential to cause damage to fish-stocks in the river and the livelihood of those who depend on it.
Once in power, almost every government has asked related state agencies to both review and seek ways to push ahead with the project. However, no government, except the Samak administration, has decided to carry it through. When he became prime minister in February, Samak immediately announced he would proceed with project to divert water for the agriculture sector.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/05/29/politics/politics_30074254.php
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.