Laos’s Dam Construction Continues Despite Suspension from Gov.

The construction on two of the biggest dams on the Mekong River in Xayaburi province, Laos is still going ahead, despite a promise by the government to halt and review all new projects after a deadly dam disaster of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric dam in July. 35 people are dead, while hundreds are still missing and more than 6,000 people are displaced.

Laos declared a suspension on all future dam projects, but the day after the announcement, Laos initiated a six-month regional consultation process for the Pak Lay dam in Xayaburi province, due to be the fourth-biggest hydropower project on the Mekong. It is a significant step forward in the development and eventual construction of the new mega-dam.

The questions have been raised on how serious the government is about reviewing numerous multibillion-dollar hydropower projects, which are a pivotal part of the poverty-stricken country’s lucrative plans to become the “battery of Asia” and sell power to neighbouring nations such as Thailand.

 

There are 140 proposed dams in Laos, which have already brought billions of dollars of foreign investment into the country from places such as China, South Korea and more importantly, Thailand.

 

Source: The Guardian