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24 Aug 2018

Laos: Groups demand accountability from companies as well as insurers for collapse of Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam

On 23 July 2018, a dam in the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project collapsed and released massive amount of water that resulted to disastrous flooding in districts of southern Laos.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies involved in the construction and finance of the project to respond to allegations of faulty construction. The companies invited to respond were: 1) Export-Import Bank of Korea; 2) Krung Thai Bank; 3) Bank of Ayudhaya; 4) Lao Holding State Enterprise; 5) Korea Western Power Company; 6) Mitsubishi UFJ Bank 7) Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company; 8) SK E&C; and 9) Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company. None of these companies responded.

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company published a statement on their relief efforts in the affected communities. SK E&C also has a similar statement.

A report by Inclusive Development International and International Rivers entitled Reckless Endangerment: Demanding Accountability for the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam Collapse mentions several insurers of the project – not just in the form of construction insurance coverage but also for other liabilities such as those resulting from the loss and damages incurred by the communities.

The Resource Centre invited American International Group (AIG), Aon, Asia Capital Reinsurance (ACR), Korean Reinsurance, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance to respond to the allegation in the report. The companies did not respond.

Company Responses

Export-Import Bank of Korea

No Response

Krungthai Bank

No Response

Bank of Ayudha

No Response

Lao Holding State Enterprise

No Response

Korea Western Power Company

No Response

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company

No Response

SK Ecoplant (part of SK Corporation)

No Response

Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power

No Response

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

No Response

American International Group (AIG)

No Response

Aon

No Response

Asia Capital Reinsurance Group

No Response

Korean Reinsurance

No Response

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance

No Response

Timeline