A Dam Too Far In Laos
April 15th, 2013
Via Climate Connections, a look at the impact of Laos’ Nam Theun 2 hydropower dam: It was once referred to by US magazine Newsweek as a “kinder, gentler” type of dam. Since the Nam Theun 2 hydropower dam commenced commercial operations in 2010, the World Bank and other proponents of the multi-billion dollar power project [...]
Read more »Mekong Hydropower Projects Will Accumulate 16 Percent Of River’s Water
February 26th, 2013
Courtesy of OOSKA News, an article on the potential impact that hydropower projects planned within the Mekong River basin could have upon flows: If the hydropower projects planned within the Mekong River basin are completed, they will accumulate as much as 16 percent of the river’s water volume, or 475 billion cubic meters a year, [...]
Read more »In Laos, A Contested Dam Project Moves Ahead
January 24th, 2013
Via STRATFOR (subscription required), further analysis of the disputed $3.5 billion Xayaburi dam project in Laos’ northern province: The Thai company hired to build a massive hydroelectric dam for Laos on the Mekong River announced Jan. 23 that it was pushing ahead on construction of the project, which has drawn severe criticism from Laos’ neighbors [...]
Read more »Laos Finally Called Out Over Xayaburi Dam
January 22nd, 2013
Courtesy of The Diplomat, commentary on the the region’s concerns over the Xayaburi Dam: Vietnam and Cambodia have finally found their voice. After months of obfuscating their position on the Lao government’s insistence on constructing the Xayaburi Dam and blocking the main stream of the Mekong River, leaders from both countries have pushed diplomatic niceties [...]
Read more »Vietnam And Cambodia Tell Laos To Stop $3.5bn Mekong River Dam Project
January 20th, 2013
Via The Guardian, an update on the long simmering regional argument over the Xayaburi dam: Vietnam urged Laos to halt construction of a $3.5bn (£2.2bn) hydropower dam on Mekong River pending further study, environmental activists said on Friday. Cambodia, downriver from the Xayaburi dam, accused Laos of failing to consult on the project, activists said. [...]
Read more »Regional Cooperation On Mekong At Low Ebb
January 11th, 2013
Via WWF, regional cooperation around Mekong River issues is at a low ebb at present: Ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam meeting next week in the Lao city of Luang Prabang must put derailed decision-making on Mekong River mainstream dams back on track or risk sabotaging management of one of the world’s great rivers, [...]
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