Mekong Countries Agree to Expedite Dam Study

17 December 2013
The Cambodia Daily
Energy / Energy policy and administration / Environment and natural resources / Environment and natural resources policy and administration / Environmental impact assessments / Generation and distribution facilities / Government / Hydropower dams / International relations / Renewable energy production
Don Sahong dam / Fifth Mekong-Japan Summit / Laos / Mekong river / Mekong River Commission / MRC / MRC Council Study / Xayaburi hydropower dam

The Mekong River Commission’s (MRC) study on the potential long-term effects of large-scale dam building on the Mekong River needs to be expedited, members of the MRC agreed at the Fifth Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo on Saturday. However, they did not set a date for the completion of the study or agree to abide by its recommendations. According to an official statement issued after the summit, leaders of the MRC nations “reaffirmed the vital importance of sustainable management and development of water and related resources of the Mekong River.” … In 2011 regional leaders agreed to participate in the MRC Council Study, but it is still unfinished and Laos has unilaterally forged ahead with the massive Xayaburi hydropower dam without a full understanding of the risks to downstream countries. Laos has also announced that a second mainstream dam, the Don Sahong dam, will go ahead without regional consultation. … “Science can no longer take a back seat in decisions over the region’s shared resource,” [Southeast Asia program director for International Rivers] Ms.[Ame] Trandem said, adding that all mainstream dam projects must be halted until the MRC Council Study is completed.

 Simon Henderson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/mekong-countries-agree-to-expedite-dam-study-49360/