Laos
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Greater Mekong Subregion’s Unsustainable Development Threatens Forests, Freshwater: WWF
2 May 2013 - 08:20 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — Critical natural resources, particularly forests, the Mekong River and its tributaries and many species of flora and fauna are threatened by the rate and type of development in the Greater Mekong S
Ecosystems Under Threat in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
17 Apr 2013 - 07:56 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Vietnam, HANOI — Ecosystems in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have already suffered damage due to exploitation of resources, and plans for large dams will only increase the level of damage, according to more than 200 exper
Laotian Government Claims Xayaburi Dam Will Not Harm Environment
22 Mar 2013 - 06:48 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — The Laotian government last week invited journalists to the site of the controversial $3.5 billion USD Xayaburi Dam for tours, interviews, and the release of a report all claiming that the Mekong R
Lower Mekong Nations Eye Cooperation on Agriculture, Environment
14 Mar 2013 - 07:56 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Senior government officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam met this week in the Lao capital, Vientiane, for a series of "summits" meant to increase discussion on regional cooper
Mekong Hydropower Projects Will Accumulate 16 Percent of River’s Water
26 Feb 2013 - 10:42 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Vietnam, HANOI — If the hydropower projects planned within the Mekong River basin are completed, they will accumulate as much as 16 percent of the river’s water volume, or 475 billion cubic meters a year, accordi
Laos, Russian Investor Renew Mekong Hydropower Deal
12 Feb 2013 - 09:49 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Laotian authorities last week signed an updated eight-year-old deal with Russian investor Regional Oil for construction of three hydropower projects on Mekong River tributaries.
Vietnam, Cambodia, Donors Challenge Laos’ Mekong Dam Plans
21 Jan 2013 - 10:15 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
laos, LUANG PRABANG — During the 19th Mekong River Commission Council meeting last week in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and other participants challenged Laos’ efforts to construct the controversial $3.5 billion USD Xayaburi
Mekong River Commission to Meet; Xayaburi Dam Issue Could Be Raised
16 Jan 2013 - 02:19 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — Ministers from member countries of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and donors started a two-day meeting in Luang Prabang Laos on January 16.
60 Percent of Vietnam’s Surface Water Vulnerable to Actions of Other Countries
19 Dec 2012 - 10:07 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Vietnam, HANOI — Up to 60 percent of Vietnam’s 840 billion cubic meters of surface water originates in foreign countries upstream, making the country highly vulnerable to pollution and water use issues in nearby na
Laos Awards New Consultancy Contract for Contentious Xayaburi Dam to Finland’s Pöyry
15 Nov 2012 - 09:51 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
HELSINKI, Finland — Global consulting and engineering firm Pöyry’s energy business group has won the technical consulting contract for the Laotian government’s controversial $3.5 billion USD Xayaburi hydropower.
ADB, AusAID Announce $87 Million Mekong Flood Package
12 Nov 2012 - 11:17 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) last week announced an $87.39 million USD loan and grant package to Laos and Vietnam for flood an
Southeast Asian Activists Criticize Sarawak Dams
8 Nov 2012 - 01:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Malaysia, SANDAKAN — Environmental activists representing 11 Southeastern Asian nations have critized Malaysia’s plans to build 12 mega-dams in Sarawak state, citing the “inefficiency, failure and destruction” of simil
Laos to Start Controversial Xayaburi Dam; Thailand Approves, WWF Warns of “Grave Danger”
6 Nov 2012 - 11:56 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — On the same day that Thailand’s government come out in support of Laos’ decision to immediately begin construction of the controversial Xayaburi Dam on the Lower Mekong River, international environ
Thai Activists Set to Protest Xayaburi Dam at Asia-Europe Summit
5 Nov 2012 - 10:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Thai activists are planning “a flotilla protest” against Laos’ controversial Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River during this week’s 9th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Vientiane.
Finland to Probe Pöyry’s Part in Laos’s Xayaburi Dam; Laos Set to Join WTO
1 Nov 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
HELSINKI, Finland — Finland’s government has declared its intention to scrutinize the role of Finnish engineering firm the Pöyry Group in the divisive Xayaburi Hydropower Project on the Mekong River in Laos.
South Korea Firms Win $1 Billion Deal for Hydropower Plant in Laos
26 Oct 2012 - 08:53 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — South Korean builder SK Engineering and Construction and state-run Korean Western Power have won a $1 billion USD contract to build and operate a hydropower plant in Laos, an official said on Octob
ADB Considers Backing Laos Mekong Dam
26 Oct 2012 - 09:19 by Local Press Report
PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post ) — The Asian Development Bank is considering providing funds to a controversial 400 megawatt dam project in Laos that could have adverse impacts on the Mekong River in downstream Cambodia. Cons
Activist Slams Laos Mega-Dam, “Hired-Gun” Consultants
22 Oct 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Laos has placed trust in unproven technology offered by “its hired-gun consultants,” the Finnish-Swiss company Pöyry and the French company Compagnie Nationale du Rhone, activist Ame Trandem told
Cambodia to Buy Power From Laos’ Xayaburi Dam
17 Sep 2012 - 08:05 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Laos’ energy minister announced last week that the country will sell energy supplied by the controversial Xayaburi Dam to Cambodia.
Xayaburi Dam Means Much More Population Relocation Than Laos Admits: Thai Researcher
11 Sep 2012 - 10:57 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — The Laotian government has said as few as 2,000 people will have to be relocated in order to construct the controversial $3.5 billion USD Xayaburi Dam across the main stem of the Lower Mekong River
Laos Denies Starting Second Mekong Dam
6 Sep 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — The Laos government on September 4 denied it had started building a second dam on the Mekong River, according to a Radio Free Asia report.
Report Forecasts Cambodian Hydro Dams Havoc
5 Sep 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A new report casts doubt on the sustainability of some planned Cambodian hydropower dams.
Vietnam, Laos to Build Two New Hydro Plants in Laos
30 Aug 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Vietnam and Laos on August 28 signed an agreement to build two hydropower plants in two southern Lao provinces.
Xayaburi and Subsequent Mekong Dams Could Deprive Millions of Protein
28 Aug 2012 - 10:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Sweden, STOCKHOLM — Hydropower dams planned for the lower mainstem of the Mekong River could decimate fish populations and with them the primary source of protein for 60 million people, according to a new study by int
Vietnam Experts Call for Moratorium on Mekong River Dams
20 Aug 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Vietnam, HANOI — Vietnamese experts last week reiterated their call for a moratorium on dam-building on the Mekong River, saying that the lives of as many as 60 million people would be adversely impacted by those d
Asian Countries Face High Financial Risk From Natural Disasters
17 Aug 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
United Kingdom, BATH — Some of Asia’s key growth economies have the highest financial risk from natural disasters due to the high exposure of their cities and trading hubs to events such as flooding, earthquakes and cycl
Xayaburi Construction Restarts, Laos Suspension Claims Denied by Thai Developers
17 Aug 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Work has started up again on a controversial $3.5 billion USD dam across the Mekong River in Laos, the project’s Thai developer said yesterday, despite Laotian claims it had been paused after compl
Myanmar, Thailand Collaborate to Fight Malaria, Dengue
9 Aug 2012 - 00:11 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — Myanmar and Thai health authorities are cooperating on efforts to contain the spread of malaria and dengue fever along the two countries' border after a severe outbreak of the two diseases was dete
Thai Villagers Launch Another Attempt to Stop Mekong Dam
8 Aug 2012 - 11:32 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — In another attempt to block Laos’ construction of the controversial $3.6 billion USD Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River, a group of 37 Thai villagers on August 7 filed a lawsuit in Administrative Cou
Cambodian Activists Press for End to Xayaburi Power Purchase
2 Aug 2012 - 09:35 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Local NGO the Rivers Coalition in Cambodia have urged Thailand and Laos to scrap their agreement for Thailand to purchase power produced by the Xayaburi Dam in Laos.
ASEAN Nations Discuss Strategic Water Management Plan
30 Jul 2012 - 11:24 by OOSKAnews Contributor
Vietnam, QUANG NINH — Representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), met last week in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province to evaluate and discuss cooperative water resources management initiatives, inc
Xayaburi Dam Work Continues Amid Protests, Lawsuits
26 Jul 2012 - 09:06 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — Thai villagers from eight Mekong provinces are planning to take the government to court over Laos’ controversial Xayaburi Dam project.
Laos Delays Xayaburi Dam, But Allows Sitework, Resettlements to Continue
18 Jul 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Bangkok, thailand — Laotian Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has announced that construction of the controversial Xayaburi Dam has been supended, pending completion of further environmental studies.
Clinton Urges Further Studies on Xayaburi Dam Construction
11 Jul 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday (10th July) pressed the Laotian government to carry out more studies on the controversial Xayaburi Dam project on the Mekong River.
New Protests Against Divisive Xayaburi Dam
2 Jul 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian villagers protested on June 29 against a divisive hydropower dam in Laos that campaigners say is being built in defiance of a pledge to first gauge its possible harmful impact on millions
Laos Promises Cooperation With Mekong Neighbors, But Continues With Controversial Dam
25 Jun 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Vietnam, HANOI — Laos has promised to work closely with other countries on sustainable use of the Mekong River as a water resource, with special attention to environmental impacts.
Critic Slams Laos Dam Design
15 Jun 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
vientiane, laos — Dams constructed on Mekong River tributaries in Laos are poorly designed, leading to erratic water flow that harms the river’s environment, according to a Lao scientist who analyzes dams in the h
Vietnam Faces Water Crisis Due to Poor Management
8 Jun 2012 - 00:00 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
Vietnam, HANOI — Vietnam may soon face a water crisis due to poor management of its resources, according to a new report released this week by Vietnamese not-for-profit environmental organization PanNature.
Conservation Groups Criticize Xayaburi Dam Redesign
23 May 2012 - 10:11 by OOSKAnews Correspondent
washington, dc, united states — Environmental conservation groups, including WWF and International Rivers, have come out in the last week with criticism over a new Laotian government report that claims a redesigned Xayaburi Dam
French Assessment of Xayaburi Dam Calls for Redesign
17 May 2012 - 09:12 by Local Press Report
vientiane (Radio Free Asia) — The Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River may have to be redesigned to avoid any adverse impact on the environment, a senior Lao official says, citing a French study amid opposition to the project by
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