The Future of the River 1 August 2013

Mekong Dams Update Overview of Mekong mainstream dams

• Brief overview of proposed Project Province/ Country Status Developer Power / Inundated Area Mekong mainstream dams MoU signed in 2007, with • Status of Lower Mekong Dams Datang Overseas Investment. In under development in Lao PDR: March 2014, Datang received Xayaburi, Don Sahong, Pak Beng environmental permits from the Lao Government (GoL) Datang International 912MW (90% slated for Pak Beng Dam Oudomxay, Lao PDR • Progress on Cambodian Power Generation Co. Ltd. , 10% for ) mainstream and tributary dams: GoL submitted the Pak Beng Dam for Prior Consultation under the Sambor, Stung Treng & Lower MRC’s PNPCA process on Sekong, Lower Sesan 2 November 8. Prior Consultation • Pak Beng Prior Consultation officially began December 2016. © Suthep Kritsanavarin Luang Prabang, Lao MOU signed 14/10/2007 PetroVietnam Power process and MRC PNPCA Luang Prabang Dam 1410 MW / 110 km2 developments PDR New studies underway Corporation (Viet Nam) • Basin-wide and cumulative impact MOU signed 04/05/2007 Ch.Kanchang (30%), PDA signed 25/11/2008 EGCO (12.5%), PTT studies – impacts of dams on PNPCA initiated 22/09/2010 Update on hydropower development Xayaboury, Lao PDR (25%), Laos (20%), 1285 MW Mekong Delta Construction as of May 2017 Bangkok Expressways on the Mekong River close to 75% (7.5%)

Maureen Harris, Southeast Asia Program Director

Province/ Project Status Developer Power / Inundated Area Country Province/ Project Status Developer Power / Inundated Area Country MOU signed 2010 Xayaboury, Lao MOU signed 11/06/2007 Pak Lay Dam PowerChina Resources 1320 MW / 110 km2 EIA approved 2013 PDR EIA Approved Mega First Corporation Berhad (Malaysia) MOU signed 11/12/2007 Champassak, PNPCA began 25/07/2014 Vientiane, Lao Datang International 260 MW / 1.6 km2 Sanakham Dam EIA Approved 700 MW Lao PDR PDR Power Generation Co. Ltd. Construction began January Sinohydro (China)- EPC Likely to follow Pak Beng 2016Construction more than 25% Contractor *Department of Alternative Vientiane, Lao complete as of May 2017 Shelved - not being considered Energy Development and Pak Chom Dam PDR and Loei, 1079 MW / 80 km2 right now Efficiency, MoE, Thailand Thailand (Thailand) Champassak, Stung Treng, MOU signed 08/12/2009 Royal Group, likely Italian-Thai Development Stung Treng Dam 900 MW / 640 km2 Lao PDR and Pre-feasibility study completed Hydrolancang PLC & Asia Corp, Ban Khoum Dam Ubon MOU signed 25/03/2008 1872 MW / 158 km2 Holdings Limited. (Italy- Ratchathani, Thailand) MOU signed 04/11/2010 Thailand China Southern Power Natural Heritage Institute (USA) Grid, original developer working with MME on two dropped out of project in MOU signed 02/04/2008 2,600MW (original Xayaburi Dam studies (1) alternative designs, (2) 2011, stating they were ‘a PDA 7/12/2010 Kratie, favored option) Champassak, Sambor Dam no dam option responsible company.’ Cambodia 465 MW or 2600 MW Lao PDR EIA underway by Thailand’s Charoen Energy and Water In October 2016, the Cambodian Hydrolancang and Royal 880 km2 Panya Consultants and China’s Asia Co. Ltd.(Thailand) Unknown Phou Ngouy Dam Cabinet gave in principle approval Group New site Hydrochina Engineering (CP Group) (possible 651 MW) (Formerly Lat Sua) to MOU for feasibility studies for planned 2-10 km Corporation Group (from Lao Sambor and Stung Treng Dams. South of Pakse office)

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Xayaburi Dam Don Sahong Dam

• Approx. 75% complete, scheduled for completion and • Groundbreaking ceremony in January 2016, construction of commercial operation in 2019 coffer dam complete and Hou Sahong channel blocked by • Resettlement completed (according to developer’s schedule) June 2016, commenced project powerhouse in August 2016 • Additional 400 million USD invested in project redesign • Construction more than 25% complete including: sediment flushing, fish monitoring, fish passage • Scheduled for completion and commercial operation 2019 improvements, fish lift and bypass (‘state of the art’ facilities) • Resettlement (14 households) completed February 2016 – Fish studies and design changes while project under construction • Developer claims modification of surrounding channels is complete; fish monitoring studies and adaptation of mitigation – Full redesign details still have not been made public measures ongoing (FishMAP) but results have not been – No assessment of compliance with MRC Preliminary Design published Guidance for LMB Hydropower – on MRC workplan for 2017 • No formal clarification on resolution of concerns raised by • MRC has cited outcome of Xayaburi as ‘model’ for Prior other riparian states during Prior Consultation Consultation Don Sahong Coffer Dam

Re-engineering Channels for Fish Pathways Pak Beng Dam

• Laos Notification to MRC in November 2016 • Developer: China’s Datang Corporation, proposed electricity sale to Thailand (PPA not yet signed) • First MRC Joint Committee meeting for Prior Consultation Process in January 2017, announce start of process as December 2016 • Project documents published on MRC website in February 2017: EIA, SIA, Resettlement Plan, project design document, include Transboundary EIA and cumulative impact assessment • Two regional stakeholder consultations, national consultations held in each country • End of initial six month Prior Consultation scheduled for 19 June 2017 Pak Beng, Laos

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Regional cooperation and decision-making: Pak Beng Prior Consultation Process Cambodian Dams MRC and PNPCA • October 2016 – Cambodian Council of Ministers approval for MME to enter • Development of Prior Consultation based on lessons learned: into MOU with Royal Group for feasibility and EIA studies for Sambor Dam • Joint Platform for Procedures established to review MRC – Emphasis on information-sharing and “stakeholder engagement” (2600MW), Stung Treng Dam (900MW), Lower Sekong Dam in 3S Basin procedures including PNPCA due to concerns with (190MW) (focus at regional level) – 2017 – MME reported stating no MOU signed yet implementation of PNPCA for Xayaburi and Don Sahong – Sharing of project documents, inclusion of transboundary and cumulative • Hydrolancang to explore development of Sambor Dam with Cambodia’s Royal • MRC Workshop in February 2016 – Lessons learnt from impact studies Group through joint venture implementation of PNPCA. – Role of MRC and technical review process • Electricity proposed for domestic use and sale to – Dialogue report from workshop published MRC website Feb 2017 – Plans for post-consultation to ensure agreed outcomes • Natural Heritage Institute (NHI) carrying out studies on behalf of MME for – MRC continue to work on “draft working paper on lessons learned” • Concerns with Pak Beng Prior Consultation: alternative options and ‘no dam option’ for Sambor Dam as a living document to support implementation of PNPCA” – Quality of information: inadequate studies, including transboundary and – NHI’s previous studies looked at three options for sediment management: cumulative impact assessment. Assessments do not take into account 2,000MW, 1,363MW and 1,700MW design • Some key recommendations around: existing and under construction projects – NHI conducting industrial scale solar feasibility study in Cambodia – Standard of documentation to inform Prior Consultation – Limited scope for meaningful input to process • Lower Sesan 2 – proposed closure of dam gates and filling reservoir August – Need for appropriate project information disclosure and improved – Emphasis on post-consultation rather than extending timeline 2017; commence operations by end of 2017 stakeholder engagement – No reference to / link with basin-wide studies, – Clarity on commencement and conclusion of PC including MRC Council Study

Basin-wide and cumulative Strategic Environmental Assessment on Mekong Economic Evaluation of Mekong impact studies mainstream hydropower (2010) Hydropower Projects

• MRC-commissioned Strategic Environmental • Key findings for Viet Nam: Likely overall economic loss. • The overall economic impact of planned Mekong hydropower projects would be negative. The negative economic impact is Assessment (SEA) 2010 Losses borne predominantly by poorer communities in the Mekong delta. mainly due to the economic value of capture fisheries loss being much larger than benefits from hydropower. • Vietnam’s Mekong Delta Study 2016 • OPPORTUNITIES: Economic benefits of improved power • Economic Evaluation of Hydropower Projects in the supply (from imported power) • Social mitigation costs and loss of sediment/nutrients also have a significant economic impact. Lower Mekong Basin April 2017 (Mae Fah Luang • RISKS: Significant loss in fresh water and marine University, Thailand) capture fisheries and aquaculture – will affect livelihoods of • The economic impact on Lao PDR and Thailand is forecast to be fisher folk in delta, especially poorer groups. Loss of positive, with Thailand being the main beneficiary. • Studies and research on climate change and sediments and associated nutrients with significant adverse • Vietnam and Cambodia forecast to suffer large negative hydropower economic affects to deltaic sedimentation, fisheries (Mekong economic impacts. • MRC Council Study – now scheduled for and marine) and agriculture. completion in December 2017 Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand (April 2017)

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Recommendations from study on downstream Take Aways impacts of Upper Mekong Dams MRC Council Study • Poor precedent set by Xayaburi and DSH from • Construction of large dams on upper Mekong have resulted in widely • Initiated by Mekong leaders at the 3rd Mekong-Japan summit in fluctuating river flows, depending on hydropower operations. technical and procedural stand point. 2011, following Prior Consultation process for Xayaburi Dam. • River flow regime or flood pulse a key driver of the biodiversity and • Importance of Mekong community voices in productivity of the Mekong River. Flow changes likely to lead to lowered • Agreed that further study on the development and ecosystem productivity, with significant impacts on ecosystems and management of the Mekong River, including the impacts of decision-making on Mekong dams. communities that depend on the Mekong. mainstream hydropower projects, essential. • There is a lack of publicly available information on hydropower • Basin-wide cumulative assessments and • Seen as complement to individual assessment and decision- operations and their downstream impacts. scientific study essential to inform decision- making through Prior Consultation • Findings of study call for active engagement and cooperation between making on projects. countries to address negative effects of hydropower development: • Objective to “close important knowledge gaps on how different improved information sharing, research collaboration and agreement on water resources developments including mainstream • Sequencing of project studies and decision- maintaining acceptable river flows needed. hydropower will impact the river basin environmentally, making: need for credible baseline data to economically and socially.” Timo A. Räsänen et al. Observed river discharge changes due to inform decision-making, design and proposed hydropower operations in the Upper Mekong Basin, • Scheduled for completion December 2017. Journal of Hydrology (2017). mitigation measures.

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