Vientiane Times, March 15, 2014, Ekaphone Phouthonesy

Tourists paddle canoes down the Mekong at the planned location of the Don Sahong dam.

Champassak authorities have expressed strong support for the Don Sahong dam as they believe the mega investment project will spur socioeconomic development in the province, a senior provincial official has said.

Speaking during a field trip to the planned site of the 260MW hydropower plant in Khong district, Deputy Governor of Champassak province Dr Bounthong Divixay said the power plant will not only secure a regular supply of electricity for the province but will also help to reduce poverty in the area.

???Electricity generated by the dam will not only boost the development of industry but will also improve the livelihoods of people living in remote areas,??? Dr Bounthong told local media.

Construction of the Don Sahong dam, which will be financed by the Malaysian company Mega First Corporation, is expected to begin at the end of this year. The project developers and the government are now accepting comments from experts on the final design of the dam as part
of efforts to ensure sustainable development of the project.

Electricity generated by the dam will be sold to Electricite du Laos for domestic consumption.

The Don Sahong dam will be located on the Hou Sahong channel, one of several channels running into the Mekong in the Khone Falls region before the river enters Cambodia.

Dr Bounthong said the provincial authorities were seeking approval from the government to designate the Khone Falls region a Special Economic Zone, adding that development of tourism in the area would not be possible without an adequate supply of electricity.

Under a special economic zone, development would focus on building tourist facilities such as hotels and resorts and various visitor attractions, he said, adding that the Khone Falls region is rich in natural beauty and would attract a large number of tourists from Europe
and Asia.

Dr Bounthong also said the dam would not significantly impact on the beauty of the Khone Falls region as the project developer would use
international expertise and technology to mitigate potential impacts.

He also said the dam would be built in a way that was environmentally friendly and would not result in air or water pollution.

???The Don Sahong dam is part of a tourism development project. Tourists can experience the natural beauty of this region and visit the power plant,??? he said.

One of the major benefits the dam would bring to the Khone Falls region is the development of infrastructure, such as the construction of a bridge across the Mekong, roads, and a better electricity supply, Dr Bounthong said, adding that improvements to basic infrastructure would help to boost tourism in the region.

According to a report from the province, about 500,000 tourists visited the province last year, up from 400,000 in 2012.