Dam rolls across Mekong despite fears
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Laos insists downstream concerns over fish stocks, livelihoods are groundless
Construction of the controversial Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River in Laos has progressed 13 per cent and is expected to be completed on schedule by 2019, according to a Lao minister.
“Basically, the construction work for this dam is easy as we have found no physical obstacles on the ground,” Vice Minister of Energy and Mines, Viraphonh Viravong, said in an interview.
Opposition from downstream countries in the Lower Mekong basin, international conservationists and Thai civic groups forced Laos to modify the design of the dam and brought additional construction and operational costs of up to $100 million (Bt3.2 billion), but they have not delayed the construction, he said.
Laos is building the Xayaburi Dam on the main stream of the Mekong 150km downstream from Luang Prabang to generate 1,260MW of power, mainly for export to Thailand.
Work on the ground is being carried out by the Thai construction company Ch Karnchang.
Downstream countries Cambodia and Vietnam raised concerns over the environmental impact on fish migration and sediment. International and Thai civic groups wanted Laos to halt the project until they were satisfied with the environmental management.
Viraphonh said Lao authorities and the Xayaburi Power Company have complied with the 1995 Mekong Agreement in conducting prior consultation with other members of the Mekong River Commission – Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
After the consultation, further study and management plans to control environmental impact, Laos decided last year to continue the project.
“I think we have done all necessary research into the concerns of environmental impacts,” he said. “Our systems are better than those of many other dams.”
The dam has gates to allow 500 tonne-ships to pass through, although no vessels of this size can at present travel along the Mekong River, he said.
“We have lifts, ladders and fish-friendly turbines to allow the migration of fish in the Mekong,” he said.
The Mekong is one of the longest rivers in Asia. An estimated 229 species live upstream of the Xayaburi Dam site, 70 of which are migratory.
Beside fish migration, reduced flow of sediment is another concern among conservationists as they fear that the dam will erode the banks of the river.
A flushing system would allow sediment to flow effectively, Viraphonh said.
“In fact, many systems planned for inclusion would be unnecessary as run-off from the dam would create no major impact on the river. But we [are building] them to make sure the dam is environmentally friendly enough,” he said.
Xayaburi Dam is the first on the mainstream of the lower portion of the Mekong River. Laos plans to build eight more dams on this stretch, including the Ban Koum on the border with Thailand, and Don Sahong in southern Champasak province.
Viraphonh said the Xayaburi Dam would be a model for other dams along the mainstream Mekong.
