International Donors Call for Redesign of Sesan 2 Hydro Dam
International donors, including the U.S., Australia, the European Union and the World Bank, have urged the Cambodian government to redesign a massive hydropower project in Stung Treng province that environmentalists say will deplete fisheries and submit it to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) for consultation. In a joint statement dated June 28 and released Wednesday, the donors said the 400-MW Lower Sesan 2 dam—which will be located on two Mekong River tributaries—would have widespread impacts on the fisheries and affect thousands of villagers living in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. … Ame Trandem, Southeast Asia program director for International Rivers, said that submitting the Lower Sesan 2 dam project to the MRC for consultation is “the responsible thing to do.” “Dams such as the Xayaburi and Lower Sesan 2 risk jeopardizing regional commitments and the Mekong River,” Ms. Trandem said. “While the Lao government has ignored its responsibilities, the risks are too great for Cambodia to do the same.” …
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/international-donors-call-for-redesign-of-sesan-2-hydro-dam-33311/
