Fisheries
No. Unlike the artificial concrete fish passage systems constructed at Xayaburi and at many other dams, the Don Sahong project improves natural river channels to enhance their existing function as fish passages. DSPC has modified several of the natural channels, and plans to continue further modifications to enhance fish passage.
The DSHP powerhouse and embankments create a dam which blocks Sahong Channel, one of seven main channels which flow across Khone Falls. Each of these channels are much larger and pass much greater flows than any fish passage which has been constructed to bypass a dam elsewhere, and any one of those natural channels is large enough to accommodate many species and sizes of fish. Fish which attempt to migrate upstream through Khone Falls swim into all of the channels, but some fish cannot pass, because they are blocked by fishing gears and/or caught by fishers, or the channel has insufficient flow, the flow is too fast, or they encounter an impassable barrier such as a waterfall or cascade. Sahong Channel was considered one of the best channels for fish passage, but other channels were also passable at certain times; however by 2016 all channels had become increasingly obstructed by large illegal fish traps.
The main measures to improve fish passage are as follows.
Since 2013 DSPC has made physical improvements to 13 sites on four channels, and will continue to maintain those sites and improve more locations. Direct observations and monitoring data indicate that many fish continue to swim upstream through the improved alternative channels, but many fish are still being caught by local people using legal fishing methods, and as in the past, some channels are impassable at certain places and particular water levels.
There is in fact quite detailed knowledge of the migratory habits, spawning patterns and diet of most of the fish species which occur at Khone Falls, as a result of local studies in the 1990s, and other studies since then by the MRC, national fisheries agencies, and by DSPC. Some fish species which reach the falls do not naturally migrate upstream past the falls, and those that do attempt to migrate through all of the multiple channels across the Khone Falls, instinctively trying to move to other habitats for spawning, feeding or refuge. DSPC has modified several channels, which cross Khone Falls (see above), and as these are natural river channels with a ranges of substrata and flow conditions they can provide alternative pathways for fish species with a range of swimming capabilities.
The situation at DSHP is quite different to that at other dam sites, where artificial concrete fish passages cannot simulate a natural river, and usually do not provide enough water relative to the flow of the river to fully mitigate loss of fish passage via the natural river channel.
Fisheries monitoring by DSPC commenced in 2009 and increased significantly in coverage and intensity by 2016, and has continued up to 2025. It is intended that monitoring will continue for 10 years during project operations, and it could be extended to support ongoing adaptive management of fisheries management and mitigation, such as additional modifications to ensure successful fish passage. The effectiveness of fish passage across Khone Falls is being assessed by comparing the species composition, size-classes and abundance of fish caught downstream and upstream of the falls, and by trapping of migrating fish and use of underwater cameras to monitor fish making their way upstream during the dry season. The results are being reviewed and published in internationally recognized peer-reviewed scientific journals and posted on this website.
Other channels are being modified to improve fish passage success using adaptive management techniques that will ensure that fish can migrate through the area year-round. By taking an adaptive approach to development, any impediments to migration that are detected can be reduced over time. It is intended that any ongoing reductions in fish catches will be offset by social and livelihood benefits provided by the project, included improvements to infrastructure, access, government services, employment and livelihoods. It is also intended that the benefits of the fishery to local villagers will over time be improved by better management and conservation, and improved processing and marketing of fishery product, activities within the purview of the DSFMC. There is also potential for production of the most valuable wild species by stocking or aquaculture, creation of aquaculture for rare and valuable aquarium species, and development of guided angling for tourists.
The project is mandated to ensure that dry season flows in Sadam Channel either exceed or match existing natural flows, with a minimum flow of 10 m3/s at all times. DSPC has deepened the upstream inlet of the Sadam channel several times to ensure sufficient flow to meet these targets; flow now always exceeds 10 m3/s, and exceeds 100 m3/s for most of the wet season, providing a very significant flow path suitable for unimpeded passage of even the largest fish.
All of the fish caught at Khone Falls are eaten and/or sold by local people; most of these are catfishes, carps or loaches, many of which are highly migratory and widespread in the lowland Mekong. In any year, about 20-30 species make up more than 90% of the total weight of the catches. These dominant species are directly the most economically important fishes, but it is generally considered that all species are of ecological importance in the river system to maintain the natural balance. Such a balance maintains the existing aquatic food chains, and also ensures that during environmental fluctuations some of the less common species may increase in abundance to take advantage of the altered conditions for which the more common species are not as well-adapted.
The total fish catch from the Mekong system may in fact be increasing, but it is being divided among more fishermen each year, and in particular commercial fishers are increasing their catch and selling to traders to supply distant urban markets. Pressure on the Mekong River’s fishery has increased since the 1990s with increasing population, more fishers, more fishing gear and more traders, with new roads make it easier to sell fish. A 2007 World Bank study found that fishing pressure is the main threat to the trans-boundary fishery which is centred on Khone Falls, and extends about 320 km between Kratie (Cambodia) and Pakse (Lao PDR). Fishing pressure is especially high between May and July when many fish are migrating to breed. Since 2016, enforcement of the Lao Fisheries Law by Lao government agencies has been continuously supported by DSPC via the DSFMC. Consequently, there has been a great reduction in the use of large illegal gears which formerly blocked river channels, and also a reduction in destructive methods of fishing with poisons, electroshockers and explosives. This reduction in obstruction of channels and fishing pressure has led directly to some reduction in local catches as would be expected, with the benefit that more fish can survive passage through Khone Falls and can continue to migrate upstream to complete their life cycles.
Several types of large fish traps are considered traditional in this area, but up to 2016 many more traps were being built each year, and their average size had increased significantly, so in some places they had completely blocked fish migrations. Under the Lao Fisheries Law of 2009, large traps which block river channels are illegal, so in May and June of 2016 the Don Sahong Fisheries Management Committee (DSFMC) employed local villagers to remove most of the large traps at Khone Falls, with support from DSPC. Since then, the agencies have been continuously supported by DSPC to remove any large illegal traps which are rebuilt or newly built, and they continue to enforce other prohibitions on illegal and destructive fishing methods.
No. Dead fish are sometimes seen in the dry season downstream of Khone Falls, and relatively large numbers were reported in 2016. These dead fish were most likely killed by insecticides which had been added to rice, or possibly by electrofishing or use of explosives; a detailed report is posted on the DSPC website. Such destructive and illegal fishing methods are unfortunately still common in the Mekong basin, where poisons, electrofishers or explosives are illegally supplied by some unscrupulous retailers or traders. The opportunistic fishers using such methods are usually resented by full-time local fishers, who generally wish to maintain a sustainable fishery. As well as killing many fish which are not caught, the destructive methods are dangerous for the fishers. Some people who used explosives or electrofishers have been killed, and some people who ate poisoned fish have become sick, and some of those reportedly died. Through the DSFMC, the company supports the responsible Lao government agencies to enforce the Lao Fisheries Law, which includes measures to find and prosecute irresponsible people who are using illegal and destructive fishing methods.
Fish which pass downstream through hydropower turbines may be injured or killed if they are struck by turbine blades or if they strike other hard structures (‘strike’); they may also be injured by shear forces and pressure changes. The DSHP has five horizontal bulb turbines which may be termed ‘fish friendly’ compared with other types of turbines which are commonly installed at large hydropower projects; the DHP’s turbines have fewer blades which rotate at a relatively slow speed which creates a lower risk of ‘strike’, and the passage of water is directly through the turbines, which creates a less turbulent flow with limited shear forces. The DSHP is a ‘low-head’ project; the difference between the headwater and tailwater varies seasonally from only 14 to 17 m, so the pressure change through the turbines is much less than at most other large hydropower projects. However, the main factor which distinguishes the ‘fish-friendliness’ of the DSHP is that most fish which are migrating or drifting downstream will not pass through the plant’s turbines. Fish tend to move downstream proportionately with the flow, and at Khone Falls (>75%) of the total Mekong flow passes down other undammed river channels, providing safe passage for most fish. Moreover, the plant has large screens which prevent entry by large fish, which are most at risk from strike. The DSHP’s screens have the smallest practical gap width of 7.5 cm, compared with typical screens at large hydropower dams which have 15-20 cm gaps. Therefore, the overall risk that the DSHP poses for fish passing downstream across Khone Falls is relatively low, so the DSHP can be termed ‘fish-friendly’, relative to other large hydropower projects which completely dam a river and have more damaging turbines.
Environmental
No. Two other channels supported fish migration in the dry season before the closure of Sahong in January 2016, and those and other channels have been modified to accommodate fish migrations in both directions in both seasons. The statement that the food security of “millions of people” will suffer is pure speculation and exaggeration designed to scare the public and win support for anti-dam groups. Extensive studies and investigations confirm that the proposed project will cause no significant impact to the full mainstream flow of the Mekong; nor will it affect fish migration or sediment passage to any degree that would harm downstream communities. Furthermore the Lao people also rely on the Mekong for their livelihood and we intend to enhance and improve their lives and the lives of their children as well as the fisheries sustainability of the area.
DSHPP will be operated so as to always provide a minimum flow over Phapheng Falls of at least 800 m3/s. This will be achieved by regulating or reducing the flow through the turbines when necessary to ensure the minimum flow is met. An automatic river flow monitoring station on the river just upstream of the Falls will be linked with the power station control room and will automatically adjust turbine flow when necessary to ensure flow over the Falls is not reduced below the guaranteed minimum.
The Sahong Channel inlet requires deepening by about 5 m so that the station can generate at its normal capacity during the dry season. This excavation cannot cause the flow over the Falls to be reduced to unacceptable levels because; (a) the main river channel immediately upstream of the inlet is between 15-20 m deep – much deeper than the 5 m deepened Sahong Channel inlet, and (b) the turbines will control the flow into the Sahong Channel – the excavation at the inlet will not control the flow.
No, modeling of the river system indicates there will be a small reduction in water levels across the downstream section of the Xang Pheuak inlet (by a few centimeters in some conditions). DSHPP will carry out minor works to clear vegetation and rock outcrops around the inlet area so as to ensure that flows through Xang Pheuak are maintained at current levels.
At the regional public consultation meeting in January 2015, expert panels reported that operation of DSHPP would have no significant trans-boundary impacts on sediment balance, hydrology, water quality or ecosystems
Because the Cambodian border is very close, the trans-boundary impacts are the same as the downstream impacts which, as above, have been identified as minimal. With respect to sediment transport there would be minimal change in the first two years of operations then no change as DSHPP turbines pass all sediment. Regarding flow variation, there is a change in the distribution of flow between channels crossing the falls, but no change in total flows downstream. Regarding water quality, there is no change as retention time is very short (maximum is less than four hours). With respect to biota, the ESIA did identify a potential negative impact on aquatic biota downstream, but this can be mitigated by modifying other channels (Sadam and Xang Pheuak) to become better fish migration passages and secondly by supporting fishery management in Lao PDR to reduce the fishing pressure on spawning migrations as a benefit for the regional fishery. Irrawaddy dolphins living close to the project site will not be affected by the project for he same reasons.
As documented in the Cumulative Impact Assessment report, a limited consultation process was carried out in Cambodia to obtain the views of people, agencies and NGOs that may be affected by the DSHPP.
No, the project will not repeat these assessments. DSHPP has clearly demonstrated in the EIA and in several engineering studies that there will not be any downstream trans-boundary impacts on regional sediment transport, water flow, or water quality. MRC experts did not dispute these broad conclusions. The ESIA did identify the potential for negative impacts on aquatic resources and mitigating these impacts has been and will continue to be the main thrust of the construction and operations work. DSHPP has established detailed monitoring programs to measure the success of fish passage across the Khone Falls and has already improved fish passage through several channels as alternative dry season pathways to Sahong Channel. The project EIA found the cumulative and trans-boundary impacts of DSHPP on the living aquatic resources would be insignificant if engineering and social interventions effectively mitigate the barrier effect of the Don Sahong Dam and other natural obstructions in neighboring channels. The key to effective mitigation will be adaptive management.
More than 30 studies have been completed and others are still underway. Among the major project studies conducted are the following:
Technical
The primary purpose of the project is the generation of electricity to spur development of the south of Lao PDR. DSHPP will not only contribute to national development and poverty eradication. It will bring direct and indirect benefits to the local communities and the region, and at the same time, significantly reduce production of greenhouse gases, a contributor to climate change phenomena.
An excellent dam site measured by most environmental criteria, DSHPP’s reservoir volume is very small compared to every other major hydropower project in the Mekong Basin. Less than 200 ha of land will be flooded by the headpond. These physical characteristics mean that changes in water quality and sediment transport downstream are minimal. That’s important because these processes have caused environmental and social impacts elsewhere. The energy density (efficiency of hydropower energy production) of the Don Sahong project is higher than any other existing or planned hydropower project in the Mekong Basin.
The project sits atop a natural dam called Khone Falls. There are seven main channels that spill over the falls. Water has been diverted down Phapheng Channel during dam construction, avoiding any need for costly excavations, and Phapheng will continue to function as a natural overflow for Sahong Channel.
Studies were conducted of other sites in the area, such as Thako, Xang Pheuak, and Tad Somphamit, but investigations determined that hydropower projects at the other sites were not economically feasible. Area residents also raised cultural concerns about sites close to Phapheng Falls. Other hydropower schemes have been considered in the past in other branches of the Mekong near the project site. However there is a finite amount of water available through the area as a whole, and it would not be economically viable to build more than one hydropower station in the Siphandone area if the water had to be shared between stations.
The Lao Government has retained world-renowned consultants, with vast experience developing successful and environmentally friendly hydropower projects on Europe’s international rivers. These consultants, including U.S.-based AECOM and the Finnish firm Pöyry, have conducted technical and environmental studies to ensure that the projects built on the Mekong will be designed and built to best international practice in development of hydropower. The approved design is technically superior, economically viable and sustainable, and without significant impact on the river or natural environment in Lao PDR and beyond its borders. The project is being constructed by Sinohydro, a Chinese-state enterprise that has constructed hydropower projects in Asia and elsewhere around the world.
Calculated average energy generation is 2,000 GWh per year.
No. The station is a run-of-river scheme. There will be insufficient water storage for the station to operate in a peaking mode.
No, the power station turbines will operate continuously from day to night following the natural flow variation in the river, which is a further reason why there will be no peaking or within-day regulation of turbine flows.
The risk of water quality impairment during construction is significantly reduced by the fact that almost all works are done on dry land, behind cofferdams. Appropriate mitigation measures are in place. During operations, the small size of the head pond means the maximum water residence time will be four hours, so there will be almost no change in water quality. Sediment retention will be minimal after two-three years of operation so scouring or flushing operations to remove sediment build up will not be necessary
Approximately 2.7 million m3 of rock is being excavated, mostly from within the Sahong Channel. The excavated material will be used to construct the embankments and powerhouse barrage, with all additional excavated material placed inside against the embankments. There will not be the need for any permanent spoil disposal areas outside the boundary of the project embankments.
The risk posed by a theoretical breach of the DSHPP embankments is low, as the embankments are relatively low (about 20 m maximum height). During a significant flood event the downstream water level will be less than 10 m lower than the head pond level, as water levels in the Mekong River downstream of the embankments are >10 m more than dry season water levels, and the potential outflow from the Don Sahong Dam’s head pond in the event of an embankment breach will be small in comparison to the total river flows downstream during a flood event. Any surge resulting from dam failure would be significantly dampened by the time it reaches significant population centers downstream.
The powerhouse site has had extensive geotechnical investigation including 31 drill holes to a maximum depth of 70 m totaling 811 m, in-situ testing for compressive strength and permeability, and laboratory testing. The investigation results confirmed that the foundation conditions for the power station are suitable.
Mekong Agreement
The Agreement for the Cooperation on the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River was signed in April 1995 by Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. The Agreement affirms and expands the “Spirit of Mekong Cooperation” by setting forth mutually accepted and fair objectives, and principles of cooperation for sustainable development and utilization of the Mekong River Basin. In 2003, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) adopted Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA), strengthening the commitment of the four countries to work together to address the protection of the environment and the ecological balance in the Mekong Basin. The objective of the PNPCA is to promote better understanding and cooperation among the Member Countries in a constructive manner to ensure sustainable development, management and conservation of the water of the Mekong River. The Procedures recognize the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of the Member Countries; the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization; respect for rights and legitimate interests; and the need for good faith and transparency.
Depending on the proposed use of water, a Member Country must submit a project
under either the Notification or Prior Consultation or Specific Agreement procedures.
Notification: The Notification requirement applies to (a) intra-basin use and inter-
basin diversion on the tributaries, including Tonle Sap; (b) intra-basin use on the
mainstream during the wet season. The Notification process includes submission of a
feasibility study report, implementation plan and schedule, along with other data.
Prior Consultation is required for (a) inter-basin diversion from mainstream during
wet season; (b) intra-basin use on the mainstream during the dry season; and (c)
inter-basin diversion of surplus quantity of water during the dry season. The Prior
Consultation process is aimed at arriving at an agreement. In addition to the
information and data required for Notification, the country proposing the project
under Prior Consultation must provide additional technical data and information on
the proposed use for evaluation of impact on riparian states. There is a six-month
timeframe.
Specific Agreement: Any inter-basin diversion project on the mainstream during the
dry season must be approved by all members of the MRC’s Joint Committee composed
of one high-ranking official from each country. In the event that the MRC is unable to
agree, the discussion can be raised to the Ministerial level.
Prior Consultation is a process for the MRC Member Countries to discuss and evaluate benefits and associated risks of any proposed water-use, which may have significant impacts on the Mekong River mainstream’s flow regimes, water quality and other environmental and socio-economic conditions. Any Member Country that intends to proceed with the project is required to notify the other three countries and provide them with available data and information. The process enables the notified countries to assess possible impacts on their territories and comment on the proposed use. The process also aims for the MRC Joint Committee, who is a body comprising one high-level government official from each Member Country to reach an agreement to achieve an optimum use and prevention of waste of water, and to issue a decision that contains agreed upon conditions for the project. The prior consultation is not about approving the proposed water use. Rather it provides the opportunity for the country proposing the project to listen to the concerns raised by the other Member Countries and, based on this, consider measures to address such concerns. This is because, as specified by the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA), the prior consultation is neither a right to veto the proposed use nor a unilateral right to use water by any Member Country without taking into account the others’ rights.
As set forth in the Mekong Agreement, the steps are: Submission: The process officially begins when the MRC receives the submission from the relevant government agency of the country proposing the mainstream development through the country's National Mekong Committee. After a check on compliance with documentation requirements, the MRC Secretariat then forwards the submission to the other three Member Countries through their Joint Committee Members. Evaluation: Once the submission is received by all Member Countries, a process of technical review will start, coordinated by the MRC Secretariat. They will collectively consult on the proposed mainstream development and request further information, as needed. The review will determine compliance with MRC procedures on flow regime and key environmental and social impact areas including the extent to which any trans-boundary impacts have been adequately addressed. Reaching Agreement: After consulting, the aim is to reach a common agreement among the MRC JC Members on how to proceed. The MRC's goal is to assist Member Countries in finding sustainable solutions for the river and its peoples.
All of the water flowing through the Khone Falls area might generally be described as part of the Mekong River. More than a dozen branches of the river separate upstream of Khone Falls, and spread over more than 10 km, before reuniting downstream at the border with Cambodia. Sahong Channel, the location of the project, is one of the many channels in this broad segment of Mekong River.
No. The Don Sahong project does not include a dam spanning the mainstream. As it is being built entirely within the Sahong Channel, it does not carry the full mainstream flow in either the wet or dry season. The Sahong Channel currently carries about 5% of the total annual flow of the Mekong River through Siphandone. This cannot be considered a significant proportion of the flow of the mainstream. By contrast, the Somphamit and Phapheng channels account for about 54%and about 30% respectively – or 84% of the mean annual flow.
After years of study, the Lao PDR submitted the Don Sahong Hydropower Project to the MRC under Notification because the project is an intra-Mekong use of water that does not change the overall flow in the Mekong mainstream. At the MRC Council Meeting on 26 June 2014, the Lao PDR acceded to requests from MRC Members and agreed to undergo the formal Prior Consultation process in furtherance of the spirit of cooperation embodied in the Mekong Agreement. Doing this enabled Member Countries to help some identify further options for DSHPP to avoid, minimize and mitigate any possible harmful effects, resulting in a better project. In doing so, the Lao PDR formalized and expanded the exchange of ideas with the other Member Countries and the MRC Development Partners, including donor governments and regional and international organizations.
No. The 1995 Mekong Agreement established a voluntary framework and procedural rules to ensure cooperation of the Governments of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam for sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. While it promotes cooperation, the Mekong Agreement also respects Member Countries’ sovereignty and right to develop. Specific Agreement of the Members is required only when a project diverts water from the mainstream of the Mekong in the dry season. Run-of-river projects proposed by the Lao PDR are a non-consumptive use of Mekong River water.
At the regional public consultation meeting on the Don Sahong Hydropower Project held in Pakse on 12 December 2014, MRC’s expert groups found that impacts on water quality and ecosystems, trans-boundary water quality, hydrology, sediment or navigation will be negligible, once the DSHPP is operational. The flow of the Mekong River will remain unchanged. The project will not divert any water to or from the river. It has virtually no storage potential, and the numerous other existing channels that bypass the project will act as natural spillways. The Lao PDR has maintained all along that fish migration across Khone Falls is the only serious environmental concern. The MRC’s Fish Passage and Fisheries Expert Group raised some legitimate concerns, which have been or are being addressed. There was no suggestion that the design of the project needed to be revised; however it was agreed to make physical modifications at some additional sites on the river’s channels to enhance fish passage, and this additional work has commenced.
Yes. The combination of the two procedures gave MRC members and development partners more than a year (from September 2013 to December 2014) to engage in dialogue about potential impacts of the DSHPP. Two site visits and two Technical Workshops were organized to provide stakeholders with first-hand information and up-to-date research findings. The Purpose of the Prior Consultation process is to determine whether the proposed water use would have significant impacts on the Lower Mekong Basin, and if so, how to minimize or mitigate them. It was demonstrated that the DSHPP would not have significant impacts on water flow or water quality and that impacts on fish migration could be mitigated. Following completion of the six-month Prior Consultation procedure, the Lao PDR indicated that it would be open to “Post Consultation” or further discussion during the pre- construction and construction phases.
In January 2015, members of the Joint Committee (JC) could not reach an agreement on what conditions could be applied to the construction and operation of the dam that would address the concerns of the notified countries. Therefore, they decided to refer the matter for guidance to the higher MRC governance body, the MRC Council. After further deliberations, the MRC Council announced in June 2015 that there are still differing views among the countries on whether the prior consultation process should come to an end, and that the matter must now be referred to their respective governments for resolution. Article 35 of the 1995 Mekong Agreement stipulates that in the event that the Commission is unable to resolve a difference or dispute, the issue shall be referred to the governments for resolution through diplomatic channels. If they find it necessary or beneficial, the governments can resort to mediation by mutual agreement according to the principles of international law. This means that each country’s Prime Minister’s cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or other national agencies can communicate with their counterparts as they choose or see fit.
In the case of the Don Sahong Hydropower Project, the Member Countries have gone through the established technical channels of the MRC and the Secretariat to discuss their concerns. Therefore, within the context of the PNPCA and of the mandate of the MRC, Lao PDR has had the opportunity to listen to the other Member Countries’ concerns. The Joint Committee could not agree on which conditions could be applied to the construction and operation of the dam that would address the concerns of the notified countries, and decided to refer the matter to the MRC Council. The Council decided that the matter had to be taken to the governmental level. Agreement in this case, does not mean a decision to go ahead or cancel the project. The prior consultation is not a process to seek approval from all the Member Countries. The decision to proceed or desist rests with the country proposing it, in this case Lao PDR, which has stated that it will continue to cooperate with the MRC and that it is committed to ensuring the sustainable development of the project.
The governments of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have been consulted at every step. On a government-to-government basis, the riparian countries support Lao PDR’s policy of sustainable utilization of the Mekong River.
Laos is rich in natural resources but poor in terms of capacity, infrastructure and workforce to spur industrialization. When the World Bank and Asian Development Bank urged Lao PDR to attract private investment, hydropower was deemed to be the best opportunity. Since its founding, Lao PDR has gained valuable experience in hydropower development. For example, Nam Theun 2, completed in 2010, has been praised as a model of economic, environmental and social sustainability. Hydropower already accounts for about one-third of the nation’s capital wealth and further development is needed to aid economic growth and lift Lao people out of poverty. Laos has the potential to develop as many as 100 hydropower dams with a total capacity of 26,000 MW. Nineteen hydropower projects with installed capacity larger than 15 MW are in operation. Twenty-five projects larger than 15 MW are under construction. Preparatory work is underway for nine more projects larger than 15 MW.
The national energy policy of Lao PDR is to maintain and expand affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity so that the electrification ratio exceeds 90 percent by 2020 and renewable energy accounts for 30 percent of supply by 2025, with a reasonable feed-in tariff. With the goal of being the “Battery of Southeast Asia,” Laos is tapping its very large hydropower potential with the participation of private developers. Hydropower development is the only way to create enough capital growth to enable Laos to leave Least Developed Country status by 2020. Hydropower development is seen as a catalyst to help bring Lao people out of poverty.
Hydropower is reliable, clean, zero-carbon-emission and affordable, renewable energy that does not pollute the environment or consume water. No other method of power generation provides the additional benefits of water for irrigation and human consumption, as well as flood control and infrastructure improvement. Like many other countries, Laos wants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, gas, oil and coal. Nuclear energy is not currently an option.
Perhaps more than any other country, Lao PDR depends on the Mekong River for its survival. In Laos, the Mekong plays an iconic and spiritual role in people’s lives, sustains livelihoods, serves as a highway for the transport of goods and passengers, and attracts tourism. At the same time, Laos, like the nations of Europe and the Americas, has a sovereign right to develop resources within its boundaries for the good of its people. The task of harnessing the Mekong to provide a better future for the Lao people will be done in a practicable sustainable manner.
Though it is a poor country, Laos is committed to meeting international hydropower sustainability standards developed by organizations including the Asian Development Bank and World Bank. In particular, the Lao Government strives to meet the policies and practices for sustainable development of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) as set forth in its Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol. The protocol is a tool that promotes and guides hydropower projects, providing a framework for governments to evaluate more than 20 issues in planning, developing and operating hydropower projects. The key aspects of sustainable development are environmental, social, technical and economic. The assessment scores performance from one to five with five representing proven best practices, and three representing basic good practice. Laos is committed to do whatever is most practicable to achieve a score of at least three of the total five marks.
Social
Fourteen households on Don Sahong Island were relocated to a new village less than 2 kilometers away. A temple, school and clinic have been built. The area of land taken up by the project is relatively small. The increase in the inundated area is only 125 ha. The livelihood of local peoples has been partly based on exploitation of fish, with a significant part of the catch caught by methods that are currently illegal and which target fish on their spawning migration. Local people will continue to catch fish for household use using legal gears, but commercial fishing catches will be reduced by trap removal and control of destructive fishing by explosives, poisons and electro fishers. Most local people understand that maintaining their livelihood by fishing d is becoming harder because of increasing competition for fish by people all along the Mekong, including downstream in Cambodia, from where many fish must migrate to reach Khone Falls. As fishing may not offer an adequate livelihood in the future the company is supporting measures to diversify livelihoods, including aquaculture and other crops.
The project has hired some local people to fill various roles, including as construction workers and on the fisheries monitoring program and for fish passage restoration. Some local people are supplying goods and services to the project, and the provision of a road, school and additional traders has reduced their cost of transport and some goods. The project is supporting local people to develop alternative livelihoods including aquaculture and agricultural projects.
As part of the preparatory works, the developer has built a road bridge from National Route 13 near Veunkham to Sadam Island crossing Phapheng Channel. The 340 m bridge opened in August 2015. When the power station is constructed, there will be formal road access to Don Sahong Island. These roadways serve 400 residents in the area, and have already provided a new level of convenience for residents by reducing reliance on small boats. In addition to improving road access, the project is creating employment opportunities for local people during construction and operation. Rural electrification will be extended throughout the region and improvements will be made to sanitation, health care, educational and cultural facilities. Tourism will increase as will trade and services.
Fishers within Sahong will lose income from the loss of fish traps but will be offered opportunities to develop livelihood alternatives and be assisted to achieve replacement income from new sources. A compensation package will be arranged for directly affected people on a case-by-case basis. As in other major hydropower 19 projects in Lao PDR, affected people have obtained better housing and infrastructure and more economic opportunities than they had.