Laos, Neighbors Face Off on Mekong River Dam Dispute

April 19, 2011

A Cambodian fisherman who lives by the Mekong River casts his net outside Phnom Penh, April 19, 2011. Plans for the first dam across the lower Mekong River are putting Laos on a collision course with its neighbors and environmentalists who fear livelihoods, fish species and farmland could be destroyed, potentially sparking a food crisis.

Countries along the Mekong River have disagreed with Laos on its proposal to build the first hydropower dam on the main stream of the lower river. Laos says the dam will cause no serious problems, while its neighbors say more information is needed about its environmental and economic effects

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Delegates from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam postponed a decision Tuesday on Laos’s plan to build a hydropower dam on the lower Mekong.

At a meeting of the Mekong River Commission in the Lao capital, Vientiane, Laos insisted the Xayaburi dam go ahead, saying it will be up to international standards.

The Lao delegate said the dam likely would not affect the environment of its neighbors.

However, Te Navuth, chairman of the MRC's Joint Committee, said Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have doubts. "The three countries want additional information while Laos... Laos wishes to have the process completed after six months."

Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam want a comprehensive assessment of cross-boundary environmental effects.