WCD Case Study Pak Mun Dam Mekong River Basin Thailand Final Report: November 2000 Prepared for the World Commission on Dams (WCD) by: Sakchai Amornsakchai - Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok Philippe Annez - Griffon Ltd., Bangkok Suphat Vongvisessomjai - Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok Sansanee Choowaew - Mahidol University, Bangkok Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Bangkok Prasit Kunurat - Department of Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University Jaruwan Nippanon, - Department of Health, Khon Kaen University Roel Schouten- Seatec International - Consulting Engineers, Bangkok Pradit Sripapatrprasite- Seatec International - Consulting Engineers, Bangkok Chayan Vaddhanaphuti - Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Chavalit Vidthayanon - Royal Thai Government Fisheries Department, Bangkok Wanpen Wirojanagud, - Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University Ek Watana - Department of Ecological Science, Khon Kaen University Secretariat of the World Commission on Dams P.O. Box 16002, Vlaeberg, Cape Town 8018, South Africa Phone: 27 21 426 4000 Fax: 27 21 426 0036. Website: http://www.dams.org E-mail: [email protected] Pak Mun Dam - Mekong River Basin, Thailand i Disclaimer This is a working paper of the World Commission on Dams - the report published herein was prepared for the Commission as part of its information gathering activity. The views, conclusions, and recommendations are not intended to represent the views of the Commission. The Commission's views, conclusions, and recommendations will be set forth in the Commission's own report. Please cite this report as follows: Amornsakchai, S., Annez, P., Vongvisessomjai, S., Choowaew, S., Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Kunurat, P., Nippanon, J., Schouten, R., Sripapatrprasite, P., Vaddhanaphuti, C., Vidthayanon, C., Wirojanagud, W., Watana, E. 2000. Pak Mun Dam, Mekong River Basin, Thailand. A WCD Case Study prepared as an input to the World Commission on Dams, Cape Town, www.dams.org The WCD Knowledge Base This report is one component of the World Commission on Dams knowledge base from which the WCD drew to finalize its report “Dams and Development-A New Framework for Decision Making”. The knowledge base consists of seven case studies, two country studies, one briefing paper, seventeen thematic reviews of five sectors, a cross check survey of 125 dams, four regional consultations and nearly 1000 topic-related submissions. All the reports listed below, are available on CD-ROM or can be downloaded from www.dams.org Case Studies (Focal Dams) Country Studies Briefing Paper • Grand Coulee Dam, Columbia River Basin, USA • India • Russia and NIS • Tarbela Dam, Indus River Basin, Pakistan • China countries • Aslantas Dam, Ceyhan River Basin, Turkey • Kariba Dam, Zambezi River, Zambia/Zimbabwe • Tucurui Dam, Tocantins River, Brazil • Pak Mun Dam, Mun-Mekong River Basin, Thailand • Glomma and Laagen Basin, Norway • Pilot Study of the Gariep and Van der Kloof dams- Orange River South Africa Thematic Reviews • TR I.1: Social Impact of Large Dams: Equity and • TR IV.1: Electricity Supply and Demand Distributional Issues Management Options • TR I.2: Dams, Indigenous People and Vulnerable • TR IV.2: Irrigation Options Ethnic Minorities • TR IV.3: Water Supply Options • TR I.3: Displacement, Resettlement, • TR IV.4: Flood Control and Management Options Rehabilitation, Reparation and • TR IV.5: Operation, Monitoring and Development Decommissioning of Dams • TR II.1: Dams, Ecosystem Functions and • TR V.1: Planning Approaches Environmental Restoration • TR V.2: Environmental and Social Assessment for • TR II.2: Dams and Global Change Large Dams • TR V.3: River Basins – Institutional Frameworks • TR III.1: Economic, Financial and Distributional and Management Options Analysis • TR V.4: Regulation, Compliance and • TR III.2: International Trends in Project Financing Implementation • TR V.5: Participation, Negotiation and Conflict Management: Large Dam Projects • Regional Consultations – Hanoi, Colombo, San Paulo and Cairo • Cross-check Survey of 125 dams This is a working paper prepared for the World Commission on Dams as part of its information gathering activities. The views, conclusions, and recommendations contained in the working paper are not to be taken to represent the views of the Commission Pak Mun Dam - Mekong River Basin, Thailand ii Financial and in-kind Contributors: Financial and in-kind support was received from 54 contributors including governments, international agencies, the private sector, NGOs and various foundations. According to the mandate of the Commission, all funds received were ‘untied’-i.e. these funds were provided with no conditions attached to them. • ABB • Skanska • ADB - Asian Development Bank • SNC Lavalin • AID - Assistance for India's Development • South Africa - Ministry of Water Affairs and • Atlas Copco Forestry • Australia - AusAID • Statkraft • Berne Declaration • Sweden - Sida • British Dam Society • IADB - Inter-American Development Bank • Canada - CIDA • Ireland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Carnegie Foundation • IUCN - The World Conservation Union • Coyne et Bellier • Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • C.S. Mott Foundation • KfW - Kredietanstalt für Wiederaufbau • Denmark - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Lahmeyer International • EDF - Electricité de France • Lotek Engineering • Engevix • Manitoba Hydro • ENRON International • National Wildlife Federation, USA • Finland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Norplan • Germany - BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic • Norway - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-operation • Switzerland - SDC • Goldman Environmental Foundation • The Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs • GTZ - Deutsche Geschellschaft für Technische • The World Bank Zusammenarbeit • Tractebel Engineering • Halcrow Water • United Kingdom - DFID • Harza Engineering • UNEP - United Nations Environment • Hydro Quebec Programme • Novib • United Nations Foundation • David and Lucille Packard Foundation • USA Bureau of Reclamation • Paul Rizzo and Associates • Voith Siemens • People's Republic of China • Worley International This is a working paper prepared for the World Commission on Dams as part of its information gathering activities. The views, conclusions, and recommendations contained in the working paper are not to be taken to represent the views of the Commission Pak Mun Dam - Mekong River Basin, Thailand iii • Rockefeller Brothers Foundation • WWF International Note: COMMENTS ON THE JUNE 2000 DRAFT REPORT BY EGAT AND THE WORLD BANK The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and The World Bank have made extensive comments on the June 2000 version of the draft final report. All the comments were carefully considered while revising the June draft. However, divergence of views still exists. The EGAT's and the World Bank's comments are presented in Section 10 and 11 of the main report. Response to the comments from the study team is given below each of the comments or towards end of the section. This is a working paper prepared for the World Commission on Dams as part of its information gathering activities. The views, conclusions, and recommendations contained in the working paper are not to be taken to represent the views of the Commission Pak Mun Dam - Mekong River Basin, Thailand iv Executive Summary The Pak Mun report is one of 8 case studies undertaken world-wide with a common methodology and approach that sought to inform the Commission on the performance and the development effectiveness of large dams. This case study concerns the Pak Mun Hydropower project, a run-of-the- river dam located near the confluence of the Mun and the Mekong River in the Northeast region of Thailand. The report attempts to compare the planned intended outcomes and the actual results. The case study would provide an analysis of the performance and the manner in which decision-making processes have responded to an evolving social, economic and political context since project completion. The lessons learned from the planning and decision-making process will directly inform the Commission’s findings and recommendations. Six central questions have been identified that are key to the World Commission on Dams (WCD) work programme and methodology. These questions serve to structure the information collection, discussion and assessment of the topics of performance and development effectiveness. The Pak Mun case study sought to address these questions: 1. What were the projected vs actual benefits, costs and impacts? 2. What were the unexpected benefits, costs and impacts? 3. What was the distribution of costs and benefits, who gained and who lost? 4. How were decisions made? 5. Did the project comply with the criteria and guidelines of the day? 6. How would this project be viewed in today’s context? The case study has primarily used existing data sources and reports to inform its assessment. Some additional research in selected areas has been undertaken. Assessing development effectiveness entails taking account of the views and perspectives of different stakeholders and project-affected groups. As an integral part of the methodology, in parallel to the study process, two consultation meetings were included. These meetings were intended to ensure that the views of different interest groups could be considered by the study team, and provided opportunities for comments and input. The Pak Mun Project: Description The Pak Mun Dam is built on the Mun River, 5.5km upstream from its confluence with the Mekong, in the province of Ubon