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Compiled Slide Presentation on the impact of Xayaburi dam on Lower Mekong downstream countries. Xayaburi, first of 11 large dams planned for the Lower Mekong River’s mainstream. 30 km East of Xayabouri town in the mountain valley in Northern Laos. The US$3.5 billion with 1,260MW Hydropower project is developed by Thai construction company, Ch Karnchang. 95% of power will be exported to Thailand. Cambodia and Vietnam will be strongly impacted from the dams.
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Photo: David Brazier/IWMI
Photo :Tom
van
Caken
berghe
/IWMI
Photo: Tom
van
Caken
berghe
/IWMI
Prepared by: Chhuon, Kong
Impact of Hydropower Projects in Mekong countries: Controversial Xayaburi Dam
15/02/2014, UPD
Outline
• Mekong Countries• Proposed Hydropower
Dam Projects• Xayaburi Dam• Problem• Project Opposition
Please watch the short video clips of Mekong documentary trailer:Part1: http://youtu.be/Xut28h_jvh8Part2: http://youtu.be/uqApw1j0WwY
Mekong Countries
Xayaburi dam
Mekong River Commission (MRC)The 1995 Mekong Agreement
Xayaburi, first of 11 large dams planned for the Lower Mekong River’s mainstream.
• 30 km East of Xayabouri town inthe mountain valley in NorthernLaos
• The US$3.5 billion with1,260MW Hydropower project:
• Developer : Thai construction company, Ch Karnchang. 95% of power will be exported to Thailand.
• In September 2010, it was submitted to MRC.
• Cambodia and Vietnam will be strongly impacted from the dams
Problem
Impacts Basin wide impacts: flow regime,
sediment, ecology, fisheries ‐floods and droughts
Direct impacts to livelihoods food security,
Resources conflict
Cause• Need for energy• Economic competition• The Mekong Agreement is
being replaced by a general political commitment to “cooperate.”
Is the project complied with sustainable development ?
- Approximately 41 species of fish with anadditional 23 to 100 migratory fish species beingthreatened through blocked fish migration routes.
- River’s complex local ecosystems will bedestroyed that serve as important fish habitats forlocal and migratory species.
- Block sediment flows, affected agriculture atdownstream (International Rivers, January 2011).
- Dams would also restrict the flow of water overagricultural areas linked to the river (TheAustralian, June 29, 2011).
- Salt water intrusion on the Mekong delta- Loss of land and access to resources- Reduce the fishery by 300,000 tones a year, with
serious consequences for a million people,especially in Cambodia, who depend on fishing(AsiaNews.it, 13/04/2011).
- Navigation will be not available for trade ortourism ship due to decrease of water depth
Project Opposition
The project is opposed by downstream ripariancountries and other NGOs from over fiftydifferent nations. With the reasons of poorstudy or research on environmental impactand social impact.
• While Laos starts construction quietly,seem to break the law and Mekongagreement on cooperation forsustainable development.
• 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, 2011, theCouncil Members, agreed conduct offurther study by Government of Japanand other international development
• And recommended for 10 years delayon the project for conducting furtherstudy and enhance the developmentand economic of riparian countries.
• On 08/12/2011, construction wasofficially suspended following ameeting of MRC member countries.
• Environmental NGOs and ecologistswelcome for canceling all the projectsnot only long moratorium.
• Will the construction resume?
A backhoe digs the earth on a road leading to the proposed dam site, (www.bangkorkpost.com )
19 th Asean Summit, 17/11/2011, (http://news.xinhuanet.com)
Progress
"What we see from this is that preparatory construction is now finished and that full construction is now under way."
Is the compensation should be considered for the downstream countries?
References• AsiaNews.it: Mekong River: Environmentalists against Xayaburi dam because it
threatens ecosystem. http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Mekong-River:-Environmentalists-against-Xayaburi-dam-because-it-threatens-ecosystem-21288.html, 13/04/2011.
• BBC News Asia: Laos' Mekong Xayaburi dam plan delayed again. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16085584, 08/12/2011.
• Brady, B. (2011, 9 30). Retrieved 3 28, 2012, from Ecologist: http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/energy/1072947/xayaburi_dam_divides_laos_and_stirs_tension_over_mekong_hydropower.html
• International River: Xayaburi. http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/5655, • MRC (Mekong River Commission) 2010. Strategic Environmental Assessment
for Hydropower on the Mekong Mainstream, http://www.mrcmekong.org/news-and-events/consultations/strategic-environmental-assessment-of-mainstream-dams/.
• The Australian News: Mekong dam plans threatening the natural order, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/mekong-dam-plans-threatening-the-natural-order/story-e6frg6ux-1226083709322
• http://www.mrc.org
