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Plan for massive dam on Mekong
Project likely to draw protests from neighbours, academic warns
The Nation (Thailand). November 4, 2007
http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/04/headlines/headlines_30054816.php
The Energy Ministry is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River which could be opposed by countries downstream.
The proposed dam in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani would power a 1,800-megawatt generator for an estimated investment of Bt90 billion.
Prof Prakob Virojkut, president of Ubon Ratchathani University, said the project would be likely to face several major obstacles, especially opposition from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Building the massive structure on the Mekong, an international river, would affect the flow of water and hinder river transport as well as the ecosystem, according to Prakob.
"However, we should wait for the study's findings to see if there are more pros than cons. It won't be easy to implement such a massive scheme since there would be a wide range of impacts domestically and internationally," he said, adding that Laos might be the first nation to oppose the idea because the project would affect its sales of electricity to Thailand.
Panya Consultant and Mako Consultant have been commissioned to carry out the feasibility study on the dam project and complete it by April.
Pinyo Boonyong, president of the Phonaklang Sub-district Administrative Organisation, Khong Jiam, Ubon Ratchatani province, said little information on the scheme had been given to local residents so far.
He said other sub-districts on the banks of the Mekong had only recently been told of the project by the ministry's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).
They are Huay Phai in Khong Jiam district and Samrong, Phosai and Nhamtang in Sri Moung Mai district.
"Most villagers who live on the Mekong would be negative about such a project, as was the case 17 years ago with the construction of the Pak Moon Dam. If the government went ahead with this project, there would be local residents opposing it due to their previous negative experience.
"In the past couple of years, China has started building dams upstream on the Mekong. Many people have since complained that there is now less water for agriculture, because lots of water is diverted for electricity generation by the Chinese," he said.
Pinyo said the government would also have to thoroughly consider compensation and resettlement programmes for affected villagers if it went ahead with the scheme. |
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