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9 Mar 2021 VIENTIANE, Laos

"Drastic Cut": What Is China Doing With Mekong Dams?

Mekong River water levels between Jinghong hydropower station in China’s Yunnan province and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam fell in recent weeks to worrying levels, says the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

4 Mar 2021 VIENTIANE, Laos

"Drastic Cut": What Is China Doing With Mekong Dams?

Mekong River water levels between Jinghong hydropower station in China’s Yunnan province and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam fell in recent weeks to worrying levels, says the Mekong River Commission (MRC). The MRC has observed a 25 percent drop in average rainfall since last November, while outflow from Jinghong has been fluctuating wildly, falling to half its normal levels on several days in January...

12 Jan 2021 BANGKOK, Thailand

Thailand Unhappy About China-Funded Laos Dam

The government of Thailand has expressed concern about plans by Laos to build another hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River, citing environmental concerns.Thailand has called for a more comprehensive scientific study into the impact of the proposed Sanakham dam on the river’s already fragile ecosystems and has threatened to veto the project using its rights as a member of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) if it concludes that the construction will harm the environment...

11 Aug 2020 VIENTIANE, Laos

Mekong River Commission Warns Of Continuing Low Flow, Potential Impacts

A newly released Situation Report from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) calls for improved data sharing among the riparian nations. “We call on the six Mekong countries to increase data and information sharing on their dam and water infrastructure operations in a transparent and speedy manner with the MRC...

17 Jun 2020 VIENTIANE, Laos

Mekong River Commission Calls For Water Flow Transparency From China

The Mekong River Commission’s (MRC) annual report, published 16 June, includes a noteworthy statement calling for increased transparency from China over upstream dam operations on the river. The Mekong is Southeast Asia's longest river and acts as a lifeline to 60 million people.Downtream Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam all suffered severe drought in 2019 as the river fell to record lows while upstream dams in China reportedly held "above-average natural flow”, withholding water and compounding the drought...

15 Apr 2020 WASHINGTON DC, United States

Did China Mekong Water Hoarding Exacerbate 2019 Drought?

Actions by China have been described as compounding a 2019 Mekong River drought that had severe impacts on livelihoods in downstream nations. China is accused in an April 2020 US government-funded study of restricting water flow from 11 upstream dams, affecting approximately 60 million people live in the Lower Mekong where agriculture and fishing are the principal sources of support...

15 Mar 2020 HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam

Vietnam Drought: State Of Emergency Declared In Five Mekong Delta Provinces

The government of Vietnam declared a state of emergency last week in five Mekong Delta provinces in response to prolonged drought which has led to a build-up of salinity, threatening yields of rice and fruit in the region.Increased salinity is spreading throughout the Mekong Delta, as water flows from the Mekong River are about 20 percent less than in 2016, which is the most recent crisis year...

3 Jun 2019 VIENTIANE, Laos

China Food And Land Grab Alleged After 2018 Laos Dam Collapse

A compensation plan following a 2018 dam collapse in southern Laos is causing local concern, with some making assusations of a China food-land grab.Last July a dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy (PNPC) hydropower project collapsed, causing regional flooding across 12 villages and killing about 50 people. To compensate villagers, the government of Laos promised and cleared a 2,000 hectare plot for the victims of the disaster so that they could grow crops...

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18 Nov 2016 VIENTIANE

Xayaburi Dam: 'Testing Ground for Untried Technologies'

In 2019, the first dam on the Lower Mekong will be completed. Environmentalists fear it will threaten fisheries and communities, but the Lao government says the concerns are exaggerated.

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29 Aug 2016 VIENTIANE, Laos

Laos Inaugurates Don Sahong Dam Construction

Laos has inaugurated construction work on the 260-megawatt Don Sahong hydropower project on the Mekong River this month, Lao news agency KPL reported last week.Laos had announced plans to start construction of the $720 million USD, 260-megawatt Don Sahong Dam back in October 2015.The project has faced opposition from local communities in other Mekong states, as well as from environmental groups, due to concerns over its impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems...

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28 Jul 2016 VIENTIANE

Sand Mining in Laos Damages Mekong

Grain by grain, truckload by truckload, Laos' section of the Mekong river is being dredged of sand to make cement -- a commodity being devoured by a Chinese-led building boom in the capital. But the hollowing out of the riverbed is also damaging a vital waterway that feeds hundreds of thousands of fishermen and farmers in the poverty-stricken nation.

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11 May 2016 VIENTIANE

Chinese Company Signs Contract for Irrigation Project in Laos

The Department of Irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has authorised a Chinese company to conduct a feasibility study of the Namsan agriculture irrigation project in Borikhamxay province.

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