To provide more clean energy, particularly in fast-growing Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the world needs more hydropower dams, energy experts say.
But a surge in building of big dams is also leading to poor people being displaced and losing rights to water – something that needs to be addressed if more dam projects go ahead, community leaders and researchers say.
Clare Hammond Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has signed with the Ministry of Construction for several ambitious projects – including master plans for the north and south of Yangon and designing a national road network. The South Korean government’s grant aid arm recently signed with the minister to prepare two regional development plans, said chief […]
Cizhong, a remote Tibetan village in China’s Yunnan province, has no recourse against the onslaught of impacts from the construction of the Wunonglong dam on the Upper Mekong River.
The Karen River Watch, a coalition of Karen environmental community based groups raise concerns over the proposed hydropower dam projects on the Salween River and repeated their call for a halt to all development projects. Together with local villagers, KRW held a protest near Hat Gyi Dam, one of the proposed dam sites in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State on March 14 to mark International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams.
Environment ministers from the six Mekong Region countries gather every three years to review environmental challenges and regional responses under the Greater Mekong Subregion Environment Ministers’ Meeting (EMM), hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In May 2014, the General Manager of the Theun – Hinboun Power Company (THPC), Mr. Robert Allen, was appointed as chair of the Lao Hydropower Developers’ Working Group. The Working Group, which is a platform for dam companies established by the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aims to support companies to “develop hydropower that meets environmental and social best practices” and “improve environmental and social risk management.” Yet, despite Mr. Allen assuming a leadership position in the Working Group, his own company has yet to follow international standards and principles of accountability.
Environmental activists are once again lashing out at the Lao government and the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission (MRC) in the hope that hydropower projects on the Mekong will be delayed or cancelled.
