MRC Secretariat Chief Executive Officer An Pich Hatd noted that he and other Member Countries looked forward to the progress and update on Lao PDR’s implementation of the agreed Joint Action Plans (JAPs) for the Pak Beng, Pak Lay, and Luang Prabang hydropower projects that all had completed their official six-month prior consultation processes.
Category: Laos
Our World Heritage is deeply tied to rivers and they need protection from dams
Despite this World Heritage status, the Mekong River, which flows through and is an integral part of Luang Prabang’s history, culture, and way of life, is under threat. A Thai-led consortium is planning to build a massive hydropower project, 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) upstream from Luang Prabang. Given the proposed dam’s size and location (including its proximity to Luang Prabang City), the dam is categorized as an “extreme risk”.
Laos reinforces protected forest area management
The updated decree will promote a landscape management approach for better planning and coordination with other sectors, local communities, and the private sector to achieve long-term sustainable development and management of biodiversity.
On China’s doorstep, Laos plays a careful game of balancing
China’s influence is growing in Laos, but the country’s foreign relations present a more complex picture.
Laos govt approves Bokeo-Boten expressway linking China, Thailand
The first stage of the 440km expressway has been been built. The contractor estimates it will take 10 years to build the next three sections from Vangvieng district in Vientiane province to the Chinese border in Luang Namtha province, at a cost of US$6 billion.
Lao flood survivors still struggle, with cash and rice support now cut off or reduced
“The authorities said they wouldn’t cut off our support until we had all moved into permanent homes, but now the cash allowance has been stopped and the rice allowance has been cut back since January,” a third Dong Bak villager said.
Climate, biodiversity & farmers benefit from rubber agroforestry: report
On the livelihoods side, there are examples from Laos, Liberia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria where intercropping with extra food crops, or agroforestry with other cash crops, improves food security and income.
Luang Prabang Dam a threat to World Heritage?
With its huge electrical power reserves, Thailand does not need energy generated by the Luang Prabang Dam. The Lao government would like the nominal gross domestic product and investment growth generated by the project. Planning is well-advanced, but it is not too late to take a cautionary step. Without a signed power purchase agreement between the developers and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, development cannot go ahead.
