April 2014 4 may 2007 lao government signed memorandum of understanding with thai company ch. Ch karnchangs 50 percentowned subsidiary, xayaburi power co, has received a 29year concession contract from the laotian government to operate the dam s power plant. National consultation workshop on the proposed xayaburi dam of the lao pdr ha long city, 22 january 2011 time event event leaders 08. The dam has an expected capacity of 1260mw, a height of 32m, and a reservoir length of 60 to 100km 1. Coupled with the reasonable assumption that the mekong drought has causes that are probably multivariate in nature, the evidence appears to suggest that the.
Brief report on national consultation on xayaburi in quang ninh. Realistically, xayaburi dam or pak beng dam are at least 1,500 miles up north from cambodia or southern vietnam, meaning how much of silts or fishes can be effect from 1,500 miles away, not to mention the chinese are buildings how many dams up north of laos and no animals are barking up to those dams up there. If the xayaburi dam is built, it will set a precedent for 10 other hydropower dams proposed for the main stem of the river. Delayed in mid2012 in response to international and regional pressure to reevaluate potential environmental consequences, the project has recently been approved again. Prior consultation for the proposed xayaburi dam project 24th march 2011 1. Hydropower development is making a global resurgence due to endorsement by powerful global institutions such as the world bank and the imperative to scale up. The xayaburi dam on the mekong river may have to be redesigned to avoid any adverse impact on the environment, a senior lao official says, citing a french. Laos approves xayaburi mega dam on mekong bbc news. Due to the fact that xayaburi hpp employs a runofriver type installation, this necessarily invalidates the claim that the dam is storing water, which would lead to low water levels. Xayaburi dam hydroelectric dam on mekong stock photo edit. The dam would destroy the rivers complex ecosystems that serve as important fish habitats for local and migratory species. The mekong river, downstream of the proposed site for the xayaburi dam a looming threat to the mekong river the xayaburi dam located in a mountainous valley in northern laos, the proposed xayaburi hydropower dam is the most advanced of eleven large dams planned for the lower mekong rivers mainstream.
Poyry responds on its role in the xayaburi dam international rivers. Then came a slew of negative reports and local complaints. Xayaburi dam 30% finished, says laos phnom penh post. W3 mekong river upstream from proposed dam site 8 km.
The xayaburi dam is a runofriver hydroelectric dam on the lower mekong river. Under the pnpcas procedural framework, laos submitted the xayaburi dam project proposal for prior consultation to the mrc on 20 september 2010, and the mrc officially began the consultation process on 22 october 2010, whereby the other mrc states had six months to formally reply with any concerns about the proposal. Pdf notification and consultation procedures under the mekong. Even though construction started back in 2012, it is due to finally start operating sometime in 2019. Bangkok, thailand, october 24, 2019 ens in five days, the xayaburi hydropower project on the mekong river in northern laos will formally begin operations. This article is the first account of an overlooked aspect of the xayaburi dam, currently under. Graduate thesis or dissertation is dam development a. The next section examines this with regard to laoss policies for the development of the mekong mainstream dams, with particular emphasis on the xayaburi dam. Work restarts at xayaburi dam in laos project leader. The xayaburi dam is historically the first hydropower dam in the lower. Sanakhams proposed site is located 155km north of lao capital vientiane and is projected to produce 684mw of electricity once the project is online in 2028. Ten floodgates were installed to produce electricity. Amid hydropower boom, laos streams ahead on latest mekong.
The construction of the immense xayaburi mainstream dam, located in mountainous northern laos, is drastically changing the life of millions of villagers, leading to irreversible, largescale environmental destruction, while creating significant transboundary tensions between the mekong countries laos, cambodia, vietnam and thailand 1. The impact of continued mekong basin hydropower development. Pdf tensions between watercourse states are likely to escalate in the absence of effective. Hydro energy plans for the mekong dont stop with the xayaburi.
On july, 2012, laos reconfirmed that it suspended the construction of the xayaburi dam reuters 2012. The total outflow of water that goes through the power plant equals the natural inflow of water, and no water is stored or channeled away from the mekong river. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. Specifically, the dam will not only involve the resettlement of about 2,100 people. This is in northern laos and about 19 miles to the east of the town of xayaburi. For the flood design of the xayaburi project, the lbllowing internationally accepted con cept is used. Aug 16, 2012 ch karnchangs 50 percentowned subsidiary, xayaburi power co, has received a 29year concession contract from the laotian government to operate the dams power plant. Laos sixth mekong dam plans submitted phnom penh post. After xayaburi, its time for some hydrodiplomacy tue, 05 feb 20 the groundbreaking ceremony for the xayaburi dam in laos on nov 7 marked the symbolic end to a long and contentious international campaign to delay the dams construction until further studies into its potential transboundary impacts were complete. Xayaburi dam development, the laotian state has generated mixed and dubious messages. Decision looms for controversial xayaburi dam on lower. Mar 30, 2014 ngos set oneyear deadline to stop xayaburi dam posted on 30 march 2014 leading nongovernmental organisations ngos today issued a joint declaration in opposition to ongoing construction of the xayaburi dam on the mekong river mainstem, and called on the thai government to cancel the power purchase agreement relating to the controversial. Nov 06, 2012 laos mekong xayaburi dam plan delayed again.
The main purpose of the dam is to produce hydroelectric power, 95% of which is to be purchased by the electricity generating authority of thailand egat. Find xayaburi dam hydroelectric dam on mekong stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection. Dec 16, 2011 the mekong river is currently under siege by a proposal for a major dam on the rivers main stream in northern laos. Nov 15, 2016 in 2019, the first dam on the lower mekong will be completed. Deputy energy and mines minister viraponh viravong said the project which laos began work on without regional approval in november 2012 remains on track to be functioning in 2019. Review of the design changes made for xayaburi hydropower project technical reference paper no. Xayaburi and the mekong critical point request pdf. The dam would destroy the rivers complex ecosystems that serve as important fish habitats for local and migratory. Dams and disease triggers on the lower mekong river. Transnational networks, authority and the dispute over the xayaburi dam on the lower.
Oct 07, 2011 ive been studying the implications of the proposed xayaburi dam in lao pdr, which would be the first dam on the mainstream of the mekong river downstream from china, for regional cooperation among the lower mekong countries and for the institutions designed to promote such cooperation. Xayaburi dam the mekong river, aptly named the mother of all rivers, forms the heart and soul of mainland southeast asia. The dambuilder is a thailand based corporation, ch. More recently, not only are the benefits of the xayaburi dam being trumpeted in the government public relations paper, the vientiane times, laos is even beginning to launch projects such as the pak beng dam in the north, and the don sahong. The xayaburi dam is a large hydroelectric dam, situated right on the banks of the lower mekong river. Publicationsconsultationsseahydropowerseamainfinalreport. If xayaburi dam was to be built, it would affect millions of people living along the mekong. Cancel the xayaburi dam by other news sources on may 6, 2011 leave a comment may 6, 2011 the save the mekong coalition and its alliances have called for the halt of construction activity at the dam site and for the government of thailand to cancel its plans to purchase the dam. A general view of the future site of the luang prabang dam is seen on the mekong river outskirt of luang prabang province, laos, february 5, 2020. Therefore, by focusing on the international dimension of the xayaburi dam issue, and thanks to the data collected through a set of intensive semistructured elite interviews 1 with diplomats. Construction began in 2010 and as of last month the project was 10 percent complete. Xayaburi mainstream dam on the lower mekong river, lao pdr. The unseasonal drought currently affecting the lower mekong region has alerted both the public and the authorities to the activities of a series of dams further upstream on the international river. Thus the water volume which passes through the project is naturally maintained.
Commercial operation of the dam is scheduled to start in october 2019. W2 mekong river at proposed dam site w5 mekong river upstream from proposed dam site 16 km. In april 2012 a contract was signed for a thai company, ch karnchang, to build the dam. The xayaburi dam is a runofriver hydroelectric dam on the lower mekong river, approximately 30 kilometres 19 mi east of sainyabuli xayaburi town in northern laos. Does the xayaburi resettlement comply with lao law. In their place, private sector lenders, including asian regional banks, are increasingly stepping in to fund projects such as xayaburi that international financial institutions will not directly support. Properities parameter unit w1 w2 w3 w4 w5 w6 standard.
Work on the first, xayaburi, began in 2010, despite concerns from cambodia and vietnam, laoss downstream neighbors, that the dam would impede sediment and nutrient flow and pose a formidableif not impassableobstacle to migratory fish science, 12 august 2011, p. Construction began in 2012 and is scheduled to finish in 2019 but the project has been marred by allegations of human rights abuses and concerns over severe environmental and social. Nguyen thai lai, deputy minister of monre, vice chairman of vnmc. After xayaburi, its time for some hydrodiplomacy tue, 05 feb 20 the groundbreaking ceremony for the xayaburi dam in laos on nov 7 marked the symbolic end to a long and contentious international campaign to delay the dam s construction until further studies. All of the numbers that you see about the importance of mekong fisherieslargest in the world, 2. Karnchang needs to be held accountable for its irresponsible and illegal behavior. Even during the early stages of construction on the xayaburi dam, food insecurity. Xayaburi dam dispels rumors of role in dry mekong river. Est on 20630 hundreds of lao residents relocated to make way for the construction of a controversial dam on the mekong river are in the dark after a landslide knocked.
Commercial operation of the dam started in october 2019. On november 7, the government of laos held a groundbreaking ceremony to launch construction of the xayaburi dam. The lao government has pledged to resolve the environmental issues. The xayaburi dam is the first of 12 dams proposed for the lower mekong river figure 1. Media in category xayaburi dam the following 12 files are in this category, out of 12 total. This is xayaburi dam project, laos by adrian callan on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Impacts of the xayaburi dam on the mekong river interview. The xayaburi dam, with installed capacity of 1,260 mw, is the first one among 12 mainstream dams on the mekong river. Recently, laos, thailand, cambodia, and vietnam agreed to put construction of the xayaburi dam on hold until an official impact assessment can be made of the potentially adverse environmental, social. Pdf impacts of mainstream hydropower dams on fisheries. While environmentalists fear it will threaten fisheries and communities, the lao government says the concerns are exaggerated. The lao pdrs planned construction of xayaburi hydropower dam will seriously cause negative impacts on the lower mekong basin countries.
The four countries of the mrc agreed in principle that further studies on the xayaburi dam s impact were needed before it could be built. According to the company, the dam has nothing to do with the drought, which it says has been caused by a lack of rainfall in luang prabang, which is around 80 kilometres north of xayaburi dam. Xayabury, laos, march 9, 2017 the xayaburi dam, with installed capacity of 1,260 mw, is the first one among 12 mainstream dams on the mekong river. Today, the supreme administrative court of thailand hears a case brought by thai villagers against thai agencies for the impacts of the xayaburi dam being built in laos. Review of the design changes made for xayaburi hydropower. Located in northern laos, the proposed xayaburi dam is the most advanced of eleven large hydropower dams planned for the lower mekong river. The xayaburi dam is a runofriver hydroelectric dam on the lower mekong river approximately 30 kilometres 19 mi east of sainyabuli xayaburi town in northern laos. Hsi, and the transboundary freshwater dispute database basin country units tfddbcu to create gis based maps of watershed development and security ranking.
The laosvietnam negotiation on the xayaburi dam gabriele giovannini abstract. A look inside xayaburi dam open development mekong. Ngos set oneyear deadline to stop xayaburi dam wwf. These new dam building and siting efforts may not, however, come soon enough for the mekong giant catfish.
The xayaburi hydroelectric power project is a runofriver power plant. When xayaburi dam operated in july 2019, the mekong turned dry while usually the period from june to august should have had high tide, saman kaewpuang, a farmer in northeastern province of. Cronin, stimson center, united states planned construction of up to 12 mainstream dams on the lower mekong is testing the strength and e. Jul 02, 2012 teerapong pomun, director of thai ngo living river siam, who joined the trip to the dam site, said, even at this early stage, the xayaburi dam is causing harm to local people and the environment. While laos is forcefully pressing forward with its xayaburi dam plans. Work restarts at xayaburi dam in laos project leader reuters. Gfe was entrusted with the installation and monitoring of the instrumentation for the monitoring of the structural behavior of the powerhouse, intermediate block, spillway and navigation lock, and the permanent excavation slopes, in order to prevent any structural damage. If completed the xayaburi dam will be the first on the mekongs main stream. Given the risks involved, it is urgent that the xayaburi dam builders stop all relocation activities and delay further construction, so. Xayaburi hydroelectric power project xayaburi power xpcl. The xayaburi dam, will block critical fish migration routes for between 23100 fish species to the mekongs upper stretches as far upstream as chiang saen in northern thailand, an important spawning ground for the critically endangered mekong giant catfish. The xayaburi dam poses a problem for the mekong rivers fish and the people living beside it. Xayaburi dam the xayaburi dam is a hydropower project under construction on the mekong river in northwest laos, just across the border from nan province, thailand.
The lao government and its thai developer are beginning preparatory earth works and resettlement plans for those whose land is needed for the dam. Xayaburi dam and the fate of the mekong national geographic. Review of the design changes made for the xayaburi. The xayaburi dam is significant because it would be the first mainstream dam in the lower mekong, the area of highest diversity and productivity. The pmf can be released safely without overtopping the concrete dam. Mar 25, 2014 laoss controversial xayaburi dam is 30 per cent built, its government has told the post. Xayaburi dam and sell the electricity to thailand, but cambodia and. W6mekong river upstream from proposed dam site 20 km. Laos has completed two dams on the mekong river, the 1. The sesan, srepok, and sekong 3s rivers dam developments. Following the first meeting of the mrc joint committee working group on 26 october 2010. The main purpose of the dam is to produce hydroelectric power, 95% of which is to be purchased by the. The stalled battle for the future of the mekong river. The mrc is funded by contribution from its member countries and development partners.
Scale and perception of the grand ethiopian renaissance dam on the blue nile river in ethiopia and the xayaburi dam on the mekong river in. Seven of 175 mw and one of 60 mw generators have been installed to generate electricity for sell to thailand and laos pdr. The complex ecosystems of the mighty mekong river in the remote province of xayaburi in northern laos are the spawning grounds of rich migratory fisheries that feed millions of people along the entire length of the river. Thus, there is a worldwide concern that the xayaburi dam could lead to the construction of. Dark days for villagers relocated to make way for xayaburi dam. Thailand to air concerns with river commission over. Xayaburi dam partly to blame for mekong basin crisis. Karnchang has violated at least 22 standards in laos 2005. In the case of embankment dam segtions the pmi water level shall not exceed the top of the impervious core. A cambodian perspective on mekong river water security. Xayaburi dam poses test for mekong regional cooperation.
After xayaburi, its time for some hydrodiplomacy iucn. Mar 29, 2016 the xayaburi hydro power project is a reinforce concrete dam with 810 meters long and 28. Letters from the mekong 6 changes in the xayaburi and don sahong projects may successfully mitigate some of the impacts on fisheries and sediment transfer, but this unfortunately cannot be known until the dam is operational and impacts are irreversible. Karnchang, thailands main developer of the laos dam projects. The xayaburi dam is the first of the 11 dams planned on the lower mekong.
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