Planned Lao Dam Raises Concerns in Thailand over Impacts along Shared Border

[webfact]

The location of the Sanakham dam on the Mekong River is seen in a photo taken in 2020. RFA

 

Special to BenarNews

 

A hydropower project set to be built on the Mekong River in Laos is raising concerns in next-door Thailand, with government officials and environmental experts voicing alarm over forced relocations, impacts on fish stocks and security along the two countries’ shared border.

 

Speaking at a seminar in Chiang Khan in northeastern Thailand on Dec. 17, participants said the China-backed Sanakham Dam – now moving ahead after a two-year delay amid COVID-19 concerns – will force many Lao villagers from their homes.

 

“This will put their health and livelihoods at risk,” said Piraton Bunyaratpan, a social economic expert from Thailand’s Naresuan University who said he had examined information about the dam forwarded by the project’s developer.

 

Full story: https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/thai/lao-dam-mekong-12212021165924.html

 

-- © Copyright Benar News 2021-12-23

 

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[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Speaking at a seminar in Chiang Khan in northeastern Thailand on Dec. 17, participants said the China-backed Sanakham Dam – now moving ahead after a two-year delay amid COVID-19 concerns – will force many Lao villagers from their homes.

Anyone still think China makes a good partner? they are only looking after themselves and could not give a dam about others

[hotchilli]

Water is the source of life... simple.

And China wants to control it.

[trainman34014]

Yeah; Thailand needs to keep the Rivers deep enough for its new Submarine Fleet !

[thenewgoo]

Thailand has no clout with China, and China couldnt care less anyway. You can raise concerns until you are blue in the face. The reality is most will be paying China for Mekong water one day - and yes, loans will be available.

[Burma Bill]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

raising concerns in next-door Thailand,

Not only Thailand, but Cambodia as well. Cambodian media 20 December 2021:-

 

Lack of data stalls Mekong dam but impact on Cambodia quite imminent

 

"Thailand has yet to start a stage of Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreements (PNPCA) for Lao’s newest run-of-river Sanakham Dam due to insufficient information from the Chinese project developer" (click on link for full story)  Please note:-

"The project could be carried out by Laos even if an objection is made"

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50991486/lack-of-data-stalls-mekong-dam-but-impact-on-cambodia-quite-imminent/

[Sydebolle]

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Water is the source of life... simple.

And China wants to control it.

The control started back when they invaded Tibet, the watershed of Central and Southeast Asia ....... and to this date nobody really cares except a couple of unheard protesters behind Dalai Lama .........

What has the world become ? 

[zzaa09]

14 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Anyone still think China makes a good partner? they are only looking after themselves and could not give a dam about others

To be expected, as any of the influential world powers have practiced historically. 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

On 12/23/2021 at 3:27 AM, webfact said:

(...) raising concerns in next-door Thailand, with government officials and environmental experts voicing alarm over forced relocations, impacts on fish stocks and security along the two countries’ shared border.

What? Is Thailand afraid of Laos now?

[StayinThailand2much]

On 12/23/2021 at 7:38 PM, zzaa09 said:

To be expected, as any of the influential world powers have practiced historically. 

 

Yes, but China is doing it in this 21st century.

[StayinThailand2much]

On 12/23/2021 at 7:19 PM, Sydebolle said:

What has the world become ? 

From the 1980s to early 2000s it was pure greed. Everyone wanted to either sell to China, or produce there cheaply. Then it turned to fear, as a newly-rich PRC turned into a 'Soviet Union-like' empire on steroids, with an expansionist drive under Xi that would take Stalin's breath away...

Edited December 25, 2021 by StayinThailand2much