Lao Press Ahead With Mekong Dam

• Proeksa Meas
• 23 May 2017
• Construction Focus
• 2523 Views

The Laotian government has announced it is to begin construction on the controversial USD2.3 million Pak Beng hydropower project in 2017.

According to Lao Energy Minister Viraphonh Viravong, Lao intends to become the “Kuwait of hydropower in Southeast Asia”.

The 912MW scheme is the third of up to eleven dams that the government of Lao is considering for the Mekong and is expected to generate power by 2024.

Chinese company Datang Overseas Investment was awarded the construction contract in 2007 and tertiary infrastructure work began in 2015.

The plans have brought sharp criticism from both Cambodia and Vietnam which fear the impact of the projects on their water and fishery resources. International Rivers estimate the projects will require re-settlement of 6,700 people.