(April 5, 2006) Laos, Asia’s second poorest country, is relying more than ever on foreign aid, but some donors are getting fed up with corruption and waste in the isolated communist nation.
China begins construction of controversial Mekong power plant
(February 18, 2006) Over the objections of its neighbours, China has begun building a dam on its portion of the Mekong River, which will be second in size only to the Three Gorges project, Agence France-Presse reports.
Ertan’s market failure and the World Bank’s outlook for China’s power sector
(February 22, 2006) The World Bank has given China’s second-largest hydropower project a satisfactory rating on its financial performance, despite its failure to meet the Bank’s financial targets and its near-bankruptcy in the first five years of operation.
Chinese dam benefits ‘impossible to quantify’: World Bank
(January 16, 2006) The World Bank has given Ertan, China’s second-largest hydro project, a satisfactory rating on the resettlement of 46,000 people, despite having no data to assess whether anyone is better or worse off.
Environmentalists unhappy about Salween River dams project
(December 7, 2005) Environmentalist warn that a power plant project scheduled to be endorsed by Burma and Thailand on Friday holds financial risks and also poses a threat to the livelihoods of people living in the region.
Salween Watch Statement on Egat Plc plans to sign MoU on Dams in Burma
(December 7, 2005) Press Statement:The President of Egat Plc announced on December 6, 2005, plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Burmese military regime on joint investment in constructing a series of five hydro-electric dams on the Salween and Tenasserim (Tanao Sri) Rivers.
Son La hydroelectric project set to begin construction
(December 2, 2005) Construction begins on Southeast Asia’s largest hydro dam which is expected to impoverish more than 90,000 ethnic minority people who will be flooded off their land.
Prime Minister: Son La should narrow development gap with other provinces
(December 1, 2005) Prime Minister Phan Van Khai talks up the Son La hydroelectric power project, expected to be the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia, with a forecast capacity of 2,400 MW.
Environmentalists lose the dam battle in Laos
(December 1, 2005) Opponents argue that little money generated by the dam will reach the poor and much will be pocketed by communist party chiefs. Corruption is rife in Laos and the country’s legal system is renowned for being underfunded with limited powers.
Dam that claims lives is illegal, says new report
(November 22, 2005) Villagers appeal to the Cambodian government as Mekong Agreement fails to protect them.
Study planned for two dams
(October 4, 2005) Thailand’s energy planners have dusted off plans for mainstream Mekong dams studied by Canadian firm Acres International in the early 1990s.
Controversial Laotian Dam Gets Underway
(September 7, 2005) World Bank-led hydro venture gets Canada’s backing, fails to meet US standards.
Heavy water release from Vietnam’s Yali Falls dam floods communities in northeastern Cambodia
(September 1, 2005) A water release from the 720-MW Yali Falls dam has caused one death, three injuries and inundated rice fields.
Aiding or abetting? Internal resettlement and international aid agencies in the Lao PDR
(August 25, 2005) Over the last decade, tens of thousands of ethnic minority people in eastern Asia’s Lao PDR (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) have been resettled from remote highland areas to the country’s lowlands and near major roads. International aid agencies have supported this internal resettlement in the name of poverty alleviation, rural development, and environmental protection. But the outcome for indigenous communities has been devastating and long-term impacts on their livelihoods, food security, and environment have been negative.
Options under water
(April 4, 2005) Laos wants to supply electricity to Southeast Asia, and a large, controversial dam is the first step.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
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