(January 28, 1999) A reform designed to bring competition to China’s electricity supply could be good news for consumers but bad for foreign businesses, which say the new policies may slow investment.
Other News Sources
Damming spree
The Tiger Leaping Gorge dam has been listed as one of the country’s major infrastructure projects for the 11th five-year plan period (2006-2010). Although final approval is pending, there is a strong likelihood the project will go ahead.
Laos dam resettlement plan approved
(January 22, 1999) A (USDollar) 1.2 billion hydropower project seen as crucial for one of Asia’s poorest countries cleared a major hurdle yesterday when affected communities in Laos supported a resettlement plan.
The scandal of Third World debt
(December 31, 1998) There are increasing calls for creditor nations to cancel the foreign debts of Central American nations badly hit by Hurricane Mitch.
Behind the red velvet curtain lies a culture destroyed
(December 30, 1998) ‘Of China’s 606 cities, two-thirds are seriously short of water. The aquifer level under Beijing is 80 metres down, dropping a metre a year. No one knows how much remains.’
News briefs
(December 28, 1998) A leader of China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Corp (CTGPC) admits that defects have been reported in the dam construction, reports China Daily.
Special analysis on Three Gorges: Flagship of centralized electricity
(December 28, 1998) Three Gorges is the flagship of the large-scale, centralized electricity expansion programme. As long as the Three Gorges dam proceeds, desperately needed market and policy reforms will be stymied, say authors.
News briefs
(December 28, 1998) China’s Premier Zhu Rongji urges builders of Three Gorges dam to pay more attention to the “quality” of its construction, an AFP story quotes Xinhua.
Submission to the Export Development Act Review, Part 2
(December 21, 1998) EDC Sinks Third World Citizens Debt
Thais buy into Shan rebel power play
(December 21, 1998) A Thai dam builder has asked tribal Shan rebels in the Golden Triangle war zone if it can build a hydroelectric barrage across the Salween River. The Shan States Army has already given the developer, MDX, permission to survey the area, Shan sources say.
Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada)
(December 10, 1998) Canada’s legislation on corruption of foreign public officials and the implementation of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.
Gorges dam relocation behind schedule
BEIJING, Dec. 08, 1998 — (Agence France Presse) China’s relocation quota for the giant Three Gorges Dam project has fallen behind this year with only 49,000 people moving out of their homes near the Yangtze river, the China Daily said Tuesday.
CANDU Exports
(December 1, 1998) The Ministry of Industry last month signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian and South Korean partners to develop Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant.
Chapter 2. A Profile of Dams in China
The following is an excerpt from the book The River Dragon Has Come!
Three Gorges Probe November 30, 1998
(i) Dam Project in Yunnan Suspended
(ii) New Forest Plan to Prevent Floods
(iii) Shift in Water Management
(iv) Green Group Disbanded in Capital
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 