Back then in 2010, lao peoples democratic republic had intentionally announced the construction of the xayaburi dam along the mekong river. The estimated hydropower potential of the lower mekong basin i. Review of the design changes made for xayaburi hydropower project. The xayaburi dam is a runofriver hydroelectric dam on the lower mekong river approximately 30 kilometres 19 mi east of sainyabuli xayaburi town in northern laos. Laos agreed in december to suspend the xayaburi dam project and said on july work had stopped after neighbors cambodia and vietnam. These two controversial projects have become the focal point of discussion between various stakeholders. Letters from the mekong 6 changes in the xayaburi and don sahong projects may successfully mitigate some of the impacts on fisheries and sediment transfer, but this unfortunately cannot be known until the dam is operational and impacts are irreversible. The xayaburi dam is on a site 350 kilometres 220 mi upstream of vientiane and 770 kilometres 480 mi downstream of jinhong, the last dam of a chinese cascade of seven dams, including four existing and three planned dams.
An alternate pastfuture for mekong river dams under the. Find xayaburi dam hydroelectric dam on mekong stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection. Deputy energy and mines minister viraponh viravong said the project which laos began work on without regional approval in november 2012 remains on track to be functioning in 2019. Challengesoftransboundarywatergovernanceonthemekongriver. Insights from the xayaburi controversy volume 5 issue 1 alistair rieuclarke. Xayabury, laos, march 9, 2017 the xayaburi dam, with installed capacity of 1,260 mw, is the first one among 12 mainstream dams on the mekong river. The xayaburi dam, the first of five planned large mekong river mainstream dams in laos, officially began operations tuesday, setting in motion the first major cog in the countrys ambitious but. The first dam built on the lower mekong, xayaburi, has commenced its commercial operation today with a big splash of advertising on almost every newspapers wraps in thailand, convincing the public that it is in harmony with the nature.
Xayaburi dam 30% finished, says laos phnom penh post. Water fluctuation is another main threat the xayaburi dam poses to the mekong river basin. Work restarts at xayaburi dam in laos project leader reuters. The analysis starts from the first hydropower dam on the lower mekong basin, the xayaburi hydropower dam, that started construction 9 years ago and 3 other dams, namely don sahong hydropower dam, pak beng hydropower dam and pak lay hydropower dam. Xayaburi dam opens in laos sparking protests in thailand. W2 mekong river at proposed dam site w5 mekong river upstream from proposed dam site 16 km. Today, the supreme administrative court of thailand hears a case brought by thai villagers against thai agencies for the impacts of the xayaburi dam being built in laos. The plaintiff between electricty generation authority of thailand. W3 mekong river upstream from proposed dam site 8 km.
The regional reaction to the xayaburi dam project thus far makes clear. Overall layout of xayaburi dam project layout report, 2010. The opening sparked protests from thai villagers who say the xayaburi dam will destroy their livelihoods. With its vast, complex network of tributaries, the mekong river system has been identified as a valuable source of hydroelectricity generation from as early as the 1960s. Xaypaseuth phomsoupha director general department of business energy donchan palace hotel ministry of energy and mines vientiane, 15 july 2015. The xayaburi dam, as seen from above in early 2017 thien y, the mekong eye by thien y. Jan 23, 20 laos finally called out over xayaburi dam. One of the largest groups of potain cranes at work in asia is helping the xayaburi dam in laos stay on schedule as the eightyear project enters its second phase.
A joint committee working group of the mrc has been established to guide the mrc secretariat and report to the mrc joint committee. This area is known as for its mountains and winding, steep narrow valleys. In the lower mekong, more than 3,235 mw has been realized via facilities built largely over the past ten years, while projects under construction will represent an additional 3,209 mw. A look inside xayaburi dam open development mekong. W6mekong river upstream from proposed dam site 20 km. Leading nongovernmental organisations ngos today issued a joint declaration in opposition to ongoing construction of the xayaburi dam. Given current development trends in the region, power demands are expected to rise seven percent per year between 2010 and 2030, yielding a substantial and potentially lucrative energy market. Xayaburi feasibility study mekong river commission. Lao government signed memorandum of understanding with thai company. As is the case with many migratory species in the mekong, if the xayaburi dam is built this specie will not be able to pass the fish ladder and soon go extinct. Impacts to be assessed in fishrelated eias and case of the xayaburi eia. Mar 29, 2016 xayaburi hydropower project is located in xayaburi province of lao pdr. Commercial operation of the dam is scheduled to start in october 2019.
Xayaburi dam hydroelectric dam on mekong stock photo edit. It was a diversion dam on the mekong river to raise the water level on the upstream and release water along the river without the diversion of water from the river and no reservoir as others conventional dam. Preliminary design guidance for mainstrearn dams in the lower mekong basin. After xayaburi, its time for some hydrodiplomacy tue, 05 feb 20 the groundbreaking ceremony for the xayaburi dam in laos on nov 7 marked the symbolic end to a long and contentious international campaign to delay the dams construction until further studies into its potential transboundary impacts were complete.
The office of national water resources onwr is working with laos to exchange information about the water level at the xayaburi hydroelectric power dam. Thus the water volume which passes through the project is naturally maintained. Aug 16, 2012 work restarts at xayaburi dam in laos project leader. The xayaburi dam is a runofriver hydroelectric dam on the lower mekong river. Apr 20, 2018 the xayaburi dam poses a problem for the mekong rivers fish and the people living beside it. Mar 30, 2014 ngos set oneyear deadline to stop xayaburi dam posted on 30 march 2014 leading nongovernmental organisations ngos today issued a joint declaration in opposition to ongoing construction of the xayaburi dam on the mekong river mainstem, and called on the thai government to cancel the power purchase agreement relating to the controversial. Laos finally called out over xayaburi dam the diplomat. The xayaburi project is the first of 11 planned mainstream dams including two in cambodia, and many commentators view it as a yardstick for. Xayaburi hydroelectric power project xayaburi power xpcl. This is xayaburi dam project, laos by adrian callan on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Ngos set oneyear deadline to stop xayaburi dam wwf.
Banktrack thai villagers file lawsuit on xayaburi dam. Eight turbine units dam has navigation lock, spillway, central intermediate block, powerhouse, fish pass large number of artisanal fishermen. An analysis of the xayaburi project shows that both the design and implementation of the consultation process might be improved. Concerns regarding sediment transmission through the dam have been partially addressed by the inclusion of four large lowlevel gates to facilitate sediment. The suit is against five thai government bodies including the electricity generating authority of thailand egat, the body that has agreed to buy 95% of the hydropower from xayaburi and claims that the thai government should have considered the projects impacts to thai villagers livelihoods before agreeing to purchase power from the dam. Xayaburi mainstream dam on the lower mekong river, lao pdr. Impacts of the xayaburi dam on the mekong river interview. Properities parameter unit w1 w2 w3 w4 w5 w6 standard.
Xayaburi dam presents no risks to environment, lao government. Poyry responds on its role in the xayaburi dam international rivers. The impact of continued mekong basin hydropower development. Thailand to file complaint over chinas dams in mekong. The 1,285megawatt xayaburi dam s debut coincides with parts of the mekong drying to a trickle even at the end of the rainy season. This executive summary of the second letters from the mekong issue brief examines the current status of mitigation efforts at laos xayaburi and don sahong dam projects on the mainstream of the lower mekong river.
The xayaburi hydroelectric power project has the installed generating capacity of 1,285 mw for electricity production of 7,370 gwh per annum. The mekong river, a vein of life in southeast asia, is among the most biodiverse rivers in the world and a central livelihood source of tens of millions of villagers living nearby. If built, the dam will cause irreversible and permanent ecological change. The main purpose of the dam is to produce hydroelectric power. Aug 12, 2011 a subsequent report, published in march by the mekong river commission itself, found that, from the xayaburi dam alone, the migrations of anywhere from 23 to 100 species of fish would be restricted, and the rivers iconic giant catfish, which can span 10 ft. The development of the mekong river basin is highly controversial, and is. This issue brief the second in stimsons letters from the mekong series examines the current status of mitigation efforts at laos xayaburi and don sahong dam projects and the relevance o f the existing narrativ e surrounding hydropowe r development on the rivers mainstream. Under the 1995 mekong agreement, prior consultation is an intergovernmental process. The xayaburi hydropower dam is expected to officially begin distributing electricity for the. Along the riverbanks, villagers grow fruits and vegetables and pan for gold. It was the first lower mekong mainstream hydropower project submitted to the mrc for prior consultation under the pnpca. After xayaburi, its time for some hydrodiplomacy tue, 05 feb 20 the groundbreaking ceremony for the xayaburi dam in laos on nov 7 marked the symbolic end to a long and contentious international campaign to delay the dam s construction until further studies.
Nguyen thai lai, deputy minister of monre, vice chairman of vnmc. Notification and consultation procedures under the mekong. Laoss controversial xayaburi dam on mekong river begins. Xayaburi hpp, fish migration facilities 3 general issues at xayaburi maximum water to water head loss across the dam is 29 m maximum turbine flow 5000 m3s. Don sahong dam xayaburi dam dachaoshan dam nuozhadu dam gongguoqiao dam miaowei dam dahuaqiao dam mekong mainstream dams mekong river. The xayaburi dam is a hydroelectric dam under construction on the lower mekong river approximately 30 kilometres east of xayaburi sainyabuli town in northern laos. Brief report on national consultation on xayaburi in quang ninh. Can damming the mekong power a better life to laos. Xayaburi plant dam safety xgeneral design principles state of the art design principles and internationally accepted standards are being used which are in line with the size and importance of the project xflood design follows internationally accepted. Management of mekong river, xayaburi dam to reduce impact.
Potain cranes keep multiyear xayaburi dam project on schedule. People and livelihoods located approximately 150 kilometers downstream of luang prabang town, a unesco world heritage site, the xayaburi dam threatens to resettle over 2,100 people in ten villages. Located in northern laos, the proposed xayaburi dam is the most advanced of eleven large hydropower dams planned for the lower mekong river. The lao ministry of foreign affairs invited xinhua and other foreign media to visit the construction site of the controversial xayaburi dam being built on the mekong river, which they claim will. Mar 09, 2017 the xayaburi dam, with installed capacity of 1,260 mw, is the first one among 12 mainstream dams on the mekong river. The xayaburi dam would directly affect over 200,000 people, and could wreak huge devastation on peoples access to food, herbertson said. Mar 25, 2014 laoss controversial xayaburi dam is 30 per cent built, its government has told the post. Leading nongovernmental organisations ngos today issued a joint declaration in opposition to ongoing construction of the xayaburi dam on the mekong river mainstem, and called on the thai governm we use cookies to analyse how visitors use our website and to help us provide the best possible experience for users. Unofficialtranslation summary of the supreme administrative court decision to hear the case submitted by the network of thai people in 8 mekong provinces challenging the xayaburi dam power purchase agreement date. Media in category xayaburi dam the following 12 files are in this category, out of 12 total. Jul 08, 20 as of today, you can now purchase the dam book, 2nd edition as a pdf file for digital download.
The mekong eye had a rare opportunity to visit the xayaburi dam. Prior consultation for the proposed xayaburi dam project 24th march 2011 1. The project comprises 7 turbine generator units of 175 mw each that will generate and transmit power through the 500 kv transmission system to egat, and one 60 mw unit that will distribute power through the 115 kv transmission system for domestic use in. Given the xayaburi dams scale of impact on the region and the fact that it. Xayaburi dam expected to have annual output of 8,400 gwh to boost power supply to laos and thailand.
This recommendation has been widely supported by scientists, environmental groups, and aid donors. Economic, environmental and social impacts of hydropower. The dam china owned dam is in laos one of southeast asias poorest countries. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Several technical groups have been established to support member countries with the xayaburi prior consultation. The xayaburi hydropower project constitutes the first project on the mainstream of the mekong river that has been submitted to the consultation procedures under the 1995 mekong agreement. Mrc study on the mekong mainstream runofriver hydropower in 1994. Construction began in 2012 and is scheduled to finish in 2019 but the project has been marred by allegations of human rights abuses and concerns over severe environmental and social consequences. Notification and consultation procedures under the mekong agreement. The xayaburi dam is a hydropower project under construction on the mekong river in northwest laos, just across the border from nan province, thailand. Protesters said the 1,285megawatt, multibilliondollar xayaburi dam, which was aiming to sell 95 percent of its generated power to thailand, could further disrupt the river flow that was already drying out even at the end of the rainy season. Pdf notification and consultation procedures under the.
Thai general contracting and infrastructure development group ch karnchang through its 50 percentowned subsidiary xayaburi power co has a 29. The xayaburi hydroelectric power project xayaburi power xpcl. This is the same version published by oreilly in 2009, with a new cover. In their place, private sector lenders, including asian regional banks, are increasingly stepping in to fund projects such as xayaburi that international financial institutions will not directly support. The construction of the immense xayaburi mainstream dam, located in mountainous. Hydropower is the favoured energy option for the mekongs riparian countries. The xayaburi project is the mekong river commissions.
Mekong residents demand transboundary impacts addressed. The xayaburi dam, will block critical fish migration routes for between 23100 fish species to the mekongs upper stretches as far upstream as chiang saen in northern thailand, an important spawning ground for the critically endangered mekong giant catfish. The total outflow of water that goes through the power plant equals the natural inflow of water, and no water is stored or channeled away from the mekong river. The xayaburi dam dispute the xayaburi dam project has received significant regional and global attention. Xayaburi hydropower project is located in xayaburi province of lao pdr. Its executive, as giving an interview to some media, said. The main purpose of the dam is to produce hydroelectric power, 95% of which is to be purchased by the. Jinghong dam in china and xayaburi dam in laos are both being blamed for the low levels of water in thai areas of the mekong. Thailand to file complaint over chinas dams choking the. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. The xayaburi hydroelectric power project is a runofriver power plant. As the mekong river flows through the mountainous province of xayaboury in northern laos, it becomes the spawning grounds of migratory fish species that feed millions of people along the entire length of the river. Economic, environmental and social impacts of hydropower development in the lower mekong basin apisom intralawan, david wood and richard frankel mae fah luang university, chiang rai presentation prepared for the lower mekong public policy initiative, fulbright economics teaching program, ho chi minh city, vietnam 09 december 2016.
Nov 06, 2012 laos gives the goahead to build a massive dam on the lower mekong river, despite opposition from neighbouring countries and environmentalists. According to an announcement by ck power plc, the operator of xayaburi. Laos has suspended construction on the controversial xayaburi dam on the mekong river following an uproar from neighboring cambodia and environmental groups, a. The first hydropower dam on the lower mekong river began commercial operations in laos on tuesday. Laos approves xayaburi mega dam on mekong bbc news. Xayaburi mainstream dam on the lower mekong river, lao pdr description. Xayaburi hydropower project prior consultation process. Of the eleven planned mainstream dams, the xayaburi dam is one of six hydropower projects proposed for the 1,100 kilometer stretch of the mekong river that runs from chiang saen in northern thailand to vientiane in laos. After xayaburi, its time for some hydrodiplomacy iucn. The dam would destroy the rivers complex ecosystems that serve as important fish habitats for local and migratory species. National consultation workshop on the proposed xayaburi dam of the lao pdr ha long city, 22 january 2011 time event event leaders 08. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Technical workshop on xayaburi hpp requisites for concession agreement. Backwater effects of pak lay and xayaburi barrages.
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