Another major Xayaburi pact

31 October 2012
The Phnom Penh Post
Agriculture and fishing / Energy / Environment and natural resources / Fishing, fisheries and aquaculture / Generation and distribution facilities / Hydropower dams / Renewable energy production / Rivers and lakes / Water resources
Ch.Karnchang / dam construction projects / Dams / electric power / environment / Fishing / fishing communities / hydroelectric dams / hydropower / International Agreements / Laos / Mekong countries / Mekong river / rivers / water / Xayaburi / Xayaburi hydroelectric dam project

The inking of a €300 million contract for water turbines, and job advertisements marked “urgent” appear to be the latest signs that Laos is powering forward with the Xayaburi hydroelectric dam project on the Mekong River. Assurances the $3.8 billion project was on hold pending further studies into its possible environmental impacts on downstream Cambodia have formed a strong part of Lao ministers’ parlance since news of a construction contract surfaced in April. Talk and action in the past week, however, suggest Laos is proceeding with building the 1,285-megawatt dam, which environmental groups and Cambodian fishing communities fear could destroy livelihoods by blocking fish migration and sediment flow. Austrian-based company Andritz has announced that CH Karnchang, the dam’s Thai builder, has placed an order with it for electro-mechanical equipment. ...

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