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Laos’ Power Grab: Damming The Mekong
November 4th, 2012
Via The Economist, a report on Laos’ admission that work is going ahead on a controversial Mekong dam: THE Mekong river, snaking its way through the heart of South-East Asia, has long sustained the world’s biggest and most productive inland fishery, supplying protein for around 65m mainly poor people from four riparian countries, Laos, Thailand, […]
Read more »Cambodia Approves Lower Sesan 2 Mekong Dam
November 3rd, 2012
Via BBC Online, a report on Cambodia’s recent approval of a controversial hydroelectric dam on a tributary of the Mekong River: The joint venture involves Cambodian, Chinese and Vietnamese investment of $781m (£488m) and is due to be completed within five years. The project in northern Stung Treng province is known as Lower Sesan 2. […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Questions Over China’s Mekong Dams
October 24th, 2012
Via the Phonm Penh Post, an article on the impact of hydro dams on the upper Mekong River in China: A fisherman repairs his boat in a community situated along the banks of the Mekong River in Kratie province. Some questions remain about whether hydro dams on the upper Mekong River in China exacerbated conditions […]
Read more »Laos Backtracks on Controversial Xayaburi Dam
July 17th, 2012
Courtesy of The Diplomat, an article on Laos’ decision to suspend work on the Xayaburi dam: After months of speculation and ambiguity, Laos finally publicly confirmed on Friday that work had been suspended on the controversial Xayaburi dam, the first large mainstream dam along the resource-rich Mekong River which runs through China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, […]
Read more »Clinton Urges Mekong Nations To Avoid US Dam Mistakes
July 15th, 2012
Via Terra Daily, an article on the Xayaburi project: The US on Friday urged Mekong nations to learn from its mistakes in river infrastructure projects, as Laos confirmed it has postponed a controversial multi-billion dollar dam project. The $3.8 billion hydroelectric project at Xayaburi has sharply divided the four Mekong nations — Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia […]
Read more »Damming The Mekong: Opening The Floodgates?
May 6th, 2012
Via The Economist, another look at the proposed Xayaburi dam in northern Laos: WHAT looked like an admittedly temporary reprieve for the swift currents and extraordinary biodiversity of the Mekong river is now over. In December the Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental body made up of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, called again for […]
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