(February 14, 2000) The World Bank announced Monday that it has approved a Global Environment Facility grant of 11 million U.S. dollars to support the Mekong River Commission ( MRC) in promoting and improving sustainable water management in the Mekong River Basin, as well as protecting the environment, aquatic life, and the ecological balance of the region. The MRC is an inter-governmental organization of the four lower Mekong Basin states: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

(February 12, 2000) After two years of delay, GMS Power Co aims to kick-start its Nam Ngum III hydropower project in Laos and is looking for foreign partners and financing with the hope of beginning construction early next year.

(February 5, 2000) Last Monday, 31 January 2000, World Bank Thai Country Director, Mr. J. Shivakumar, together with representatives from the World Bank’s Thailand Country Department, visited Mae Mun Man Yuen 1, the protest village established at the Pak Mun dam site.

(January 1, 2000) This project is for the construction and operation of a rockfill dam and hydroelectric power plant with 440MW maximum output on the Nam Ngum River, a tributary of the Mekong, on a 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

(December 31, 1999) Grainne Ryder argues that the Theun Hinboun model is a deception serving the interests of the dam building industry at the expense of local communities and the national economy of Laos.

(December 24, 1999) The demise of Oudom Khattigna, ranked fourth in the nine-member Politburo that rules Laos, was not announced in Vientiane. Instead, it was revealed by a Lao diplomat at the embassy in Hanoi (political affairs in Laos are controlled by Vietnam).

(December 9, 1999) The World Bank should pay compensation to Thai villagers affected by the 240 million dollar Pak Mun Dam project, the International Rivers Network said, Thursday.

(November 30, 1999) Power Company Off the Hook for Damaging Fisheries in Lao PDR Government or Foreign Aid Should Pay for Restoration, ADB Says

(November 30, 1999) To promote economic growth in the Mekong region, the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (MDBs), are encouraging large-scale, capital-intensive infrastructure development with private sector participation.

(November 5, 1999) The prime minister has been urged by 28 international organisations to address the plight of Northeastern villagers affected by dam projects.