Laos defies neighbours to start dam work

The Mekong River. Photo / Supplied

Environmentalists opposed to a controversial dam that could devastate one of Asia's most important rivers have accused authorities in Laos of starting the project without approval.

Environmental groups say the 1260MW Xayaburi dam on the Mekong River in northern Laos will adversely affect 60 million people, and neighbouring Cambodia and Vietnam - concerned about the flow of water further downstream - are officially opposed to the project.

An intergovernmental meeting failed to reach agreement, but reports over the weekend revealed that work on the £2.1 billion ($4.3 billion) proposed project was already under way and that the Laotian authorities and a Thai construction company had already prepared several kilometres of roads and set about removing local villagers by giving them £10 in compensation.

"Local people say that work, particularly on road construction, began several months ago," said Pianporn Deetes, a Bangkok-based activist with International Rivers, an NGO that has called for work on the dam to be postponed while more assessment is carried out.

"Sixty million people in the lower Mekong depend on the river in one way or another, either for fishing, irrigation or farming. If the dam goes ahead, these people will all be affected directly or indirectly."

There were similar warnings in an environmental assessment study published by the Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental body comprising Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand which was established in 1995 to promote the sustainable management of the river.

That study said that if Xayaburi and subsequent schemes went ahead, it would "fundamentally undermine the abundance, productivity and diversity of the Mekong fish resources".

The World Wildlife Fund has similarly warned about the impact, saying the damage to ecosystems could be reduced if tributaries of the Mekong, rather than the main river itself, were dammed.

The future of the dam was due to be decided yesterday by members of the MRC when it met in Vientiane. While member countries are not prevented from acting unilaterally, officials say they prefer to agree to a broad consensus on major projects.

But a statement issued by MRC members suggested the body would not be able to prevent Laos from pushing ahead with the project, saying there was still a "difference in views" and the issue should be handled at ministerial level.

It was reported that after the meeting, Laotian delegate Viraphonh Viravong said Laos would consider accommodating its neighbours' concerns but it wasn't possible to further extend a consultation process.

There has been intense opposition to the dam from NGOs and villagers whose livelihoods would be affected. Letters of opposition have been delivered to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Reports suggest that Thailand, a country with increasing energy demands, would buy most of the electricity produced by the dam.

Authorities in Laos, an impoverished country that says it needs the foreign exchange it would earn to pay for social programmes, have not responded to the claims they have started work on the project.

But in February, Vientiane issued a statement that claimed Xayaburi would be the "first environmentally friendly hydroelectric project on the Mekong and will not have any significant impact on the Mekong mainstream".

- INDEPENDENT