News

The extreme drought around the Sekong, Sesan and Srepok rivers in northeast Cambodia is forecast to intensify this week, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) says. In its latest forecast, the MRC Flood and Drought Management Centre in Phnom Penh said the extreme drought would expand ...

In a weekly situation report, the MRC said low inflows from the Mekong and low rainfall in the Tonle Sap’s upper-catchment areas had “resulted in a very critical situation” for the lake. ...

The Mekong is once again at historical lows. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) gauge at Phnom Penh Port shows river level to be four metres below average for this time of year – and lower than last year’s record. ...

Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam requested Lao PDR to conduct rigorous transboundary impact assessments and enhance proposed measures to mitigate potential adverse impacts from the 1,460-megawatt Luang Prabang hydropower project, as the Mekong River Commission concluded a six-month prior consultation process for the project. ...

Cambodian, Thai and Vietnamese stakeholders have urged Xayaburi hydropower developer to share information on its hydropower plant in northern Laos, Mekong River Commission said. ...

The Mekong River Commission on Tuesday reported dam equipment tests in China will affect water levels in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos in the middle of this month. In a press release obtained yesterday, the MRC said the tests are being conducted in China’s Jinghong hydropower station ...

Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Lim Kean Hor said on Tuesday that designing future systems and strategies for the Mekong River Basin is necessary to address the challenges of severe drought that continue to threaten livelihoods and the people’s way of life. ...

On Cambodia’s Tonle Sap, record low water levels have plunged fishing communities into crisis but with warnings of “severe drought”, there are concerns the situation will get even worse.​ ...

The Mekong River Commission yesterday warned that severe to extreme drought is expected to hit countries in the lower Mekong basin from now until January, putting crop production at risk and causing water shortages. An MRC preliminary analysis noted that Cambodia and Thailand will be ...

The Mekong River Commission, member countries and relevant partners yesterday discussed procedures for a technical review of Laos’ planned Luang Prabang hydropower project.​ About 200 people comprising representatives of member countries Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, civil society, academics, private sector and development partners were ...

A newly developed fish-appetite detection system for aquaculture could be adapted for fish farms in the Lower Mekong region, it was reported Monday. Catch and Culture – Environment, the fisheries and environment newsletter of the Mekong River Commission,   said the system had been developed by Umitron ...

Development partners on Thursday asked the Mekong River Commission to prioritise policies to protect the basin in future development strategies, noting that the Mekong river basin is among the most vulnerable regions due to climate change. Representatives from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, the ...

The 7th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Regional Stakeholder Forum was held in Lao capital Vientiane over Monday and Tuesday, with participants discussing urgent issues facing the Mekong region, the Secretariat of the MRC has said. ...

The Mekong River Commission yesterday announced new efforts to address natural disasters in the region, including a decision to upgrade and rename the Regional Flood Management and Mitigation Centre to the Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre. The announcement followed a two-day bi-annual meeting, which ...

Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam have urged fellow Mekong River Commission member Laos to address cross-border and environmental impact issues following consultations on its Pak Lay hydropower dam project. On Thursday, the MRC member countries agreed on a statement on the proposed project, after they concluded ...

Germany and the EU continue to grant new funding, worth €8.92 million ($10.15 million), to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to enhance the Mekong cross-border water cooperation among the lower Mekong countries – Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, said an MRC press release The Post ...

The German government has committed about $4.6 million to the Mekong River Commission to increase dialogue and cooperation on transboundary water resource planning with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the MRC said yesterday. ...

Parts of an environmental impact assessment for the controversial Pak Lay dam in Laos was copied word for word from an assessment of the equally contentious Pak Beng dam, an advocacy group has claimed. A statement from Save the Mekong, released last week during a meeting ...

The Japanese government has pledged its continued support for the Mekong River Commission’s ongoing efforts to improve irrigation facilities under a four-year $1.4 million project involving Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. ...

The Mekong River Commission and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have launched a joint study on forest conservation and river basin management in the lower Mekong aimed at improving management and environmental conservation of the area. ...