Thai court agrees to hear lawsuit over controversial Xayaburi dam in Laos

25 June 2014
Radio Free Asia
Economy and commerce / Energy / Energy policy and administration / Environment and natural resources / Environment and natural resources policy and administration / Environmental and biodiversity protection / Environmental impact assessments / Generation and distribution facilities / Government / Human rights / Hydropower dams / International relations / Judiciary and courts / Law and judiciary / Renewable energy production / Social development
EGAT / Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) / International Rivers / Laos / Mekong river / Southeast Asia / Thai Supreme Administrative Court / Thailand / Xayaburi dam / Xayaburi Power Company Limited

A top court in Thailand agreed on Tuesday to hear a lawsuit brought by villagers against the country’s decision to purchase power from the planned Xayaburi mega dam in neighboring Laos, which green groups say could threaten the region’s environment and food security. Overruling a lower court decision, the Thai Supreme Administrative Court said it had jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit filed by villagers living along the mighty Mekong River, on which the dam is to be built. The case will have no direct impact on the Lao government’s decision to go ahead with the dam project. But any court decision in the future that questions the validity of a power purchase agreement signed between the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and the Xayaburi electricity generating company could dampen the U.S. $3.5 billion dam project. … The move has met with criticism from its neighbors Cambodia and Vietnam as well as environmental groups. …

 Parameswaran Ponnudurai
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/lawsuit-06242014170128.html