Laos holds “groundbreaking” ceremony for contentious Mekong dam
Laos held a “groundbreaking” ceremony on Wednesday for a $3.5 billion hydropower dam on the Mekong River that is opposed by environmentalists and some neighbouring countries because of the possible impact on livelihoods, fisheries and agriculture. But it was unclear when actual construction of the contentious Xayaburi dam would start, with preliminary work on access roads and the riverbank already under way, and Laos’ prime minister saying plans were still being considered. … Cambodia and Vietnam have opposed the project but Thailand has refrained from criticising Laos. It will buy about 95 percent of the power generated by the dam and three Thai firms have a stake in the project. …
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/laos-dam-idUSL3E8M77GG20121107
