Mekong Utility Watch tracks the financial and environmental performance of state power companies in the six-country Mekong region, including China, Burma, Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Our aim is to build public demand for financial accountability and effective regulation of the region's power generation and transmission companies.
Hydro Dams
Utility/Power Company Performance
Power Sector Reform
Regulation
Regional power trade
Competitive Generating Technologies
News and Analysis
Planned Lao dam raises concerns on the Mekong March 28, 2008
The Lao government's decision earlier this year to press ahead with plans to build the Don Sahong dam on the mainstream of the Mekong River in southern Laos is causing major concern in Cambodia and internationally, reports Newsmekong. [Full story]
China Southern Power Grid Company’s hydro project in Cambodia threatens forests, indigenous farmers March 26, 2008
Indigenous farmers and forests are threatened by one of at least four Chinese-funded hydropower projects approved by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen over the last two years. [Full story]
PI Report: Electricity of Vietnam urged to rethink hydro operations on Mekong tributary March 26, 2008
This environmental impact assessment review by Probe International and Phnom Penh-based NGO Forum on Cambodia recommends that Electricity of
Vietnam consider switching from peaking to base load operations at its upper Se San hydro dams to ease impacts in downstream Cambodia.
Additional recommendations, photos, and statements from affected community leaders in Cambodia included. [Full story]
China Southern Power Grid Company turns to Three Gorges and Hong Kong amid coal shortage January 16, 2008
China Southern Power Grid will seek to buy more power from the Three Gorges dam and Hong Kong to plug a supply gap caused by the worst coal shortage in the southwestern region in five years, SCMP reported. [Full story]
Theun Hinboun Power Company displaces Laotian farmers: PI report January 15, 2008
The Lao government’s ambition to become one of Southeast Asia’s biggest exporters of hydropower and wood chips is hurting the country’s small farmers and driving young people to neighbouring Thailand in search of better prospects, a recent Canadian-led study has found.
“If things continue the way they are going in this village, all the young people will have gone to Thailand. Only the older people will remain,” says a resident of Pak Veng, one of nearly 60 communities adversely affected by dam construction and the conversion of forests to industrial tree plantations in central Laos. [Full story]
Thai, Chinese power companies to build US$5 billion coal plant in Cambodia January 11, 2008
Thai and Chinese power companies have joined with Thailand's biggest construction company, SET-listed Ital-Thai Development, to develop a $5 billion coal-fired power plant in western Cambodia. [Full story]
PI Policy: The problem with environmental impact assessments January 06, 2008
Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are now standard practice for dam builders. Probe International's Grainne Ryder explains how this seemingly positive development actually undermines citizen rights and harms the environment. [Full story]
EGAT: Lao-Thai power deals approved December 14, 2007
Thailand’s National Energy Policy Council has signed an agreement to buy electricity from the Hongsa power plant in Laos, Bangkok Post reported. [Full story]
Lao dam impact policies a 'shambles' December 13, 2007
A report by the Nam Theun 2 Power Company's panel of international experts warns of "significant impoverishment" in hundreds of villages affected by the World Bank's model dam project, and says more donor aid is needed. Probe International's Grainne Ryder argues instead that revenues from the Nam Theun 2 dam should go directly to villagers suffering losses caused by the dam's operations. Read the article and letters to the editor from the World Bank, the former CEO of the French-led Nam Theun 2 Power Company, and the company's former "downstream impacts manager." [Full story]
News and Analysis
