Vientiane Times
February 17, 2003

Environmental impacts and unforeseen disasters are forcing villagers in the Theun-Hinboun area to abandon their traditional fishing lifestyles and become farmers growing crops and vegetables.

The Theun-Hinboun Power (THPC) company has paid out  US$2.5 million in reimbursements to the locals for the environmental and social impacts of the construction of the hydropower dam, which opened in 1998.

THPC paid about US$425,000 in environmental and social compensation in 2002, due to the impact of the THPC, especially for the victims of unexpected flooding along the
Hinboun, Theun, and Yuang rivers. When the floods hit, the project gave more than 130 tonnes of rice, over two tonnes of salt, mosquito nets, blankets and agricultural equipment
to assist 18 villages.

Local people, who have traditionally relied on fishing the rivers, are now finding that the fish stocks are shrinking during the wet season, according to a local source.

The project is still to help another 16 villagers to cope with the impact of the dam, step by step. The dam site stretches from Ban Kapob, Khamkeut district, Bolikhamsay
province to Ban Vangdao, Hinboun district, Khammuan province.

THPC is supporting villagers with crop seeds, vegetables, chickens, ducks, pigs, and some fruit trees. Some 35 families living near the Nam Theun River in Ban Kapob are being encouraged to grow chili, cucumber, eggplant, peanuts, lichee and longan for subsistence. If the production is successful they will be encouraged to produce for market sale.

The people of Ban Kapob gained more comfortable lives when the project and the Government provided a new road, electricity supplies and a water pump for growing crops and vegetables in their gardens. But the villagers still had to deal with changes to their lifestyles.

Mr Siengmang, a villager of Ban Kapob said that fishing is not easy now that the hydropower dam has opened. In the past he says it was a lot easier to get fish. Anyway, he
agrees with the project’s Mitigation Compensation Programme to help villagers with the transition to a better life. The chief of Ban Vangdao, says his villages was helped by the project and is now encouraging farmers to grow rice for subsistence and local sale. The project has supplied quality rice seeds to farmers to get them started.
One farmer managed to harvest rice 8 tonnes of rice from just one hectare. He is now instructing other farmers, telling them how to grow and harvest their rice.

Robert Allen, General Manager of the Theun-Hinboun Power Company said, “the project is committed to mitigation and compensation for the villagers in Laos. We are cooperating
with local people and local authorities to solve the problems in the future.”

THPC established the Mitigation Compensation Programme in 2000 and has a 10-year reimbursement plan to help the victims of disaster and environmental impact. The project
is providing groups of fishermen with research about fish on the river and knowledge about how to protect fish stocks to ensure adequate supplies in the future.