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Article

18 Mar 2018

Author:
Radio Free Asia

Thailand: Gov’t. delays Lao dam electricity project; might be sign that Gov’t. is listening to concerns about impacts to people & environment

"Thailand's Delay on Buying Lao Dam Electricity Could Trigger Rethink", 16 March 2018

Thailand’s national electricity authority has decided to delay a decision to purchase power to be produced by a controversial Mekong River hydropower dam.

…It’s being interpreted by analysts as a sign that, along with other issues involved, the Thai government has been listening to concerns about the dam expressed by local Thai communities and by civil society groups.

These communities and organizations have for several years been outspoken in pointing to the potential negative environmental impacts….

International Rivers, an environmental watchdog, estimates that 6,700 people will have to be relocated to build the Pak Beng dam, with 25 villages in Laos already directly affected by work being done in preparation for its construction.

The lead project developer is China’s Datong Corporation, working together with a subsidiary of EGAT and Électricité du Laos (EDL).

…The impacts of the dam on the flow of the Mekong could affect the livelihoods of millions of people living downstream from the project.