Project likely to draw protests from neighbours, academic warns
November 4, 2007
The Nation (Thailand)
The Energy Ministry is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River which could be opposed by countries downstream.
The proposed dam in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani would power a 1,800-megawatt generator for an estimated investment of Bt90 billion.
Prof Prakob Virojkut, president of Ubon Ratchathani University, said the project would be likely to face several major obstacles, especially opposition from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Building the massive structure on the Mekong, an international river, would affect the flow of water and hinder river transport as well as the ecosystem, according to Prakob.
"However, we should wait for the study's findings to see if there are more pros than cons. It won't be easy to implement such a massive scheme since there would be a wide range of impacts domestically and internationally," he said, adding that Laos might be the first nation to oppose the idea because the project would affect its sales of electricity to Thailand.
Panya Consultant and Mako Consultant have been commissioned to carry out the feasibility study on the dam project and complete it by April.
Pinyo Boonyong, president of the Phonaklang Sub-district Administrative Organisation, Khong Jiam, Ubon Ratchatani province, said little information on the scheme had been given to local residents so far.
He said other sub-districts on the banks of the Mekong had only recently been told of the project by the ministry's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).
They are Huay Phai in Khong Jiam district and Samrong, Phosai and Nhamtang in Sri Moung Mai district.
"Most villagers who live on the Mekong would be negative about such a project, as was the case 17 years ago with the construction of the Pak Moon Dam. If the government went ahead with this project, there would be local residents opposing it due to their previous negative experience.
"In the past couple of years, China has started building dams upstream on the Mekong. Many people have since complained that there is now less water for agriculture, because lots of water is diverted for electricity generation by the Chinese," he said.
Pinyo said the government would also have to thoroughly consider compensation and resettlement programmes for affected villagers if it went ahead with the scheme.
The proposed dam in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani would power a 1,800-megawatt generator for an estimated investment of Bt90 billion.
Prof Prakob Virojkut, president of Ubon Ratchathani University, said the project would be likely to face several major obstacles, especially opposition from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Building the massive structure on the Mekong, an international river, would affect the flow of water and hinder river transport as well as the ecosystem, according to Prakob.
"However, we should wait for the study's findings to see if there are more pros than cons. It won't be easy to implement such a massive scheme since there would be a wide range of impacts domestically and internationally," he said, adding that Laos might be the first nation to oppose the idea because the project would affect its sales of electricity to Thailand.
Panya Consultant and Mako Consultant have been commissioned to carry out the feasibility study on the dam project and complete it by April.
Pinyo Boonyong, president of the Phonaklang Sub-district Administrative Organisation, Khong Jiam, Ubon Ratchatani province, said little information on the scheme had been given to local residents so far.
He said other sub-districts on the banks of the Mekong had only recently been told of the project by the ministry's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).
They are Huay Phai in Khong Jiam district and Samrong, Phosai and Nhamtang in Sri Moung Mai district.
"Most villagers who live on the Mekong would be negative about such a project, as was the case 17 years ago with the construction of the Pak Moon Dam. If the government went ahead with this project, there would be local residents opposing it due to their previous negative experience.
"In the past couple of years, China has started building dams upstream on the Mekong. Many people have since complained that there is now less water for agriculture, because lots of water is diverted for electricity generation by the Chinese," he said.
Pinyo said the government would also have to thoroughly consider compensation and resettlement programmes for affected villagers if it went ahead with the scheme.
17 comments:
I don't see anything negative here. The electricity is expensive as hell in the region. This project will help keep the price down. Plus, it will also support the coming growth in the region as well. Thus, I predict all members of the Mekong committee to approve it unanimously. Go! go! go!
If so, Cambodia people will be:
" choss tirk kro poeu, lerng loeu Khla, chole prey bonla, chole Phsar Police" oh well good luck CAMBODIAN PEOPLE. You have a great leader......
Oh, it aint going to that bad. Now days, we can create electricity without severely impacting the echo system.
Anyway, no one will want to live with candle light in the 21st century anymore.
shut the fuck up Ah tmil communist derechhan abuse ur own's race ....
No one can trust this Hanoi-cpp government.
All they want is to help the vietcong country to prosper and to destroy Cambodia at all cost.
Whatever will be their decision, it will not be good for cambodians.
They are the traitors of the nation.
You got it backward, 5:56. It is the Vietcong that help Cambodia to move forward, not the other way around.
Now the vietcong must let cambodians alone.
We have to rebuild our country.
Wrong, the Vietcong should continued to help Cambodia to move forward with them. We can't depend on any western trained idiots who have repeatedly destroyed Cambodia throughout history and caused too much suffering to millions and millions of people.
To 8:02 PM
Khmers don't want to be the vietcong dogs like you and the Hanoi-CPP idiot.
Cambodia must not behind Vietnam, it must be better .
All CPP are idiots and have no brain.
Let us do the work.
8:48, the truth is the CPP are idiots only because you have no faith in the real Khmer people, isn't that so? Your people preferred westerner trained leaders who has no records whatsoever of being able to keep the country one piece for more than 5 years, isn't that the truth?
Therefore, if you believe Khmer people think like you, I say you got to be out of your mind, fool.
TO 9:20 PM
You still keep telling silly things.
Fucking idiot, cambodians always have problems when they work with the Vietcong.
What they always want is to kill all khmers: Pol Pot is a product of the Vietcong, Sihanouk was betrayed by the Vietcong .
We must make a referendum to know if Cambodians accept to be the vietcong dogs.
If you work with the vietcong, Cambodia will stay in the last rank in Asia every year.
You can accept this fact but not me because I am always the best at school, at work, etc...
Do not react to the couple of jerks here. They are here to anger you. Make your points across for concerning issues facing our nation. Do not let them distract you!!!
Let Thais' plan go through, the Southern Vietnam will go dry. Let me tell you from the Ecosystem point of view, when the Mekong water decrease--the Sea water will rush in the Mekong delta. The Vietnamese who depended on the fishery and water for rice fields. Ah Youns will die and go starving, and will to Cambodia begging for Foods.
Khmers can give ah Youn a hammer on the heads! LET THAIS' HYDROELECTRIC DAM GOES PLEASE. Cambodia will not be effective as much. Khmer watch out Youns will eat your dogs!
Build it, they will come!
Good point, 12:59, but it is not as bad as you put it. First, the ocean rise and fall with the tide. During the Low tide the shore will be dry and you can go and dig up some clams or crabs along the shore if you like that type of food. And during the High tide, the ocean will rise to a certain level then it stop -- this point is often called "Dead tide". Thus, the ocean will only come in as far as where the land level is at the same height as the sea level. Furthermore, the nice thing about this is when the tide rushing in, it also attracted all sort of ocean fishes that seek easy meal in the canal; thus, bring in more food for the region. So, it really isn't that bad.
If you want to be a good commentor, you should comment the right topic. Otherwise, your comment will be the same language no matter what the topics wanted to explain about. You should be more leberal than conservative because you are living abraod and your English is good. Don't be racism eventhogh you hat ex-king and Hun Sen. I'm glad that you are still alive, but you are seem out of date.
Well, we are commenting on a dam that contain water to run an electric generator, and the water will ultimately flow to the ocean in South Vietnam. Everything is connected to the topic.
On the other hand, you are commenting about racism, ex-King and Hun Sen which has nothing to do with this topic, alright?
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