Research for Change

Dr Kim Geheb, Regional Coordinatork.geheb@gmail.com

Mekong: the Challenges of Scale

A set of interacting or interdependent component parts forming an intricate whole. Every system is delineated by its spatial and temporal boundaries, surrounded and influenced by its environment, described by its structure and purpose, and expressing in its functioning.

System

One dam in Xe Bang Hieng

2,492 weirs in Xe Bang Hieng

HP Development, Yunnan, China

Hennig, T. 2012. Implications of Yunnan's aggressive hydropower development on regional food security, changing land utilization and livelihood: China’s Irrawaddy watershed. Paper presented at Stockholm World Water Week, 28 August, 2012.

Lancang cascade

Nam Ngum River BasinIf managed and coordinated as a system, Nam Ngum’s hydropower development values to society would increase by 3–12% (US$12-53 million/yr)*.

* Jeuland, M., Baker, J., Bartlett, R. and Lacombe, G. 2014. The costs of uncoordinated infrastructure management in multi-reservoir river basins. Environ. Res. Lett. 9 (2014) 105006

Dam MW Share holders

Nam Ngum 1 149 EdL Gen (100%)

Nam Ngum 2 615 EdL Gen 20%, Ch. Karnchang (Thailand) 28.5%, Ratchaburi (Thailand) 25%, + 3 more companies (26.5%)

Nam Ngum 3 480 GMS Lao Company Limited (27%), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Limited Company (25%), Axia Power Holdings B.V. (25%), Lao Holding State Enterprise (23%)

Nam Ngum 4 220 ? Proposed dam; development by a Lao company.

Nam Ngum 5 120 EDL (Laos) 15%, Sinohydro (China) 85%

Nam Ngum 1 Exp. 120 EdL Gen (100%)

Nam Mang 1 64 Don Fang 75%, A&C 10.75%, EdL 10%, + one other 10%.

Nam Mang 3 40 EdL (100%)

Nam Bak 1 160 ? Planned dam

Nam Bak 2 80 ? Planned dam

Nam Lik 1 64 POSCO E&C: 10%; PTTI: 40%; HEC: 40%; EdL: 10%

Nam Lik 1/2 100 EdL Gen (20%), Hydro Engineering Co. (80%)

Nam Ngum: Huge diversity

…there is often no serious assessment for developing a holistic concept of the entire watershed including all tributaries. This concept should go far beyond hydropower development and create an innovative management model, which considers water, environment, livelihood, food security, etc.”

Hennig, T., Wang, W., Feng, Y., Ou, X. and He, D. 2013. Review of Yunnan's hydropower development. Comparing small and large hydropower projects regarding their environmental implications and socio-economic consequences. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 27 (2013) 585–595.

Planning shortfalls

“

Impact assessments Never ‘whole

system’. Restricted number of

variables. Focus only on

variables for which there is some or partial data.

Land use change, food production, benefit sharing and/or ecosystem services very rarely considered.

Thank you for listening

https://wle-mekong.cgiar.org