Laos

Through the appeal, the plaintiffs are seeking an order from the Administrative Court, to ensure that the five state agencies responsible for approval of the Xayaburi Dam’s Power Purchase Agreement comply with Thai laws and regulations; including the requirement to carry out a transboundary health and environmental impact assessment, as well as adequate information disclosure and consultations with affected communities.

In the statement released today, the Mekong Regional Technical Working Group for EIA brings together governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), and will expand to cover private sector and EIA experts to improve regional cooperation for effective EIA policy and practices. The group aims to reduce the social and environmental impacts of regional infrastructure projects, particularly as the upcoming Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Economic Community further hastens trans-boundary investments.

HANOI, May 14, 2015 – In a ground-breaking agreement, government officials and civil society representatives from across the Mekong region established a working group to develop a regional public participation guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) this week in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Laos confirmed this week that it is clearing land for workers’ housing in advance of the controversial Don Sahong Dam project, but said that work on the dam itself has not begun.

The hydroelectric project planned for the “4,000 Islands” area of Southeast Asia’s key artery the Mekong River is a joint venture of Malaysia’s Mega First Corporation Bhd, with an 80 percent share in the project, and the government of Laos holding the remaining equity.

This study explores and seeks to explain the EIA procedures practice gap in Lao PDR. It reviews the literature and studies EIA legislation, administrative procedures, guidelines, and relevant documents by using a model proposed by Leu et al. (1996) and applying criteria proposed by Wood (1995) to evaluate the performance of EIA systems.

The potential for hydropower development on the Nam Theun and Nam Kading systems in central Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) was first identified by the Mekong Secretariat in the 1970s. The studies undertaken by the Government of Lao PDR identified a series of potential sites for hydropower development on the Nam Theun, which were given numbers for reference purposes, including the Nam Theun 2 site.

This draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Riverbank Erosion Protection Subproject is part of the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Report for the Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project. The IEE was conducted during project preparation that started in the 4th Quarter of 2010. This draft EMP shall be finalized by the Project Management and Implementation Unit (PMIU) based on the detailed design, with technical assistance from the Environmental Specialist of the Project Management and Implementation Support (PMIS) Team.

The Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) requested assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of the Nabong–Udon Thani Power Transmission Project for possible ADB financing. The project aims to deliver power from hydropower sources in Lao PDR through a transmission line and substation system in Nabong Village towards the Udon Thani border in Thailand.

The Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project (NNHP-1) is located on the Nam Ngiep River, is a left bank tributary of the Mekong River, with the confluence about 7 km upstream of the town of Pakxan (Paksane) in Bolikhamxay province. The source of the river is near the town of Phonsavan in Xieng Khouang province. The River flows from north to south from its origin on the Tra Ninh plateau at EL.1,200 m down to the Mekong plain at EL.160 m. The maximum altitude of the ridge surrounding the catchment area to west of the Nam Ngiep River basin, is 2,819 m.

Attapeu is undergoing a period of rapid and continuing change. It may be thought of as occupying a transitional position with, a rich natural resource base and considerable development potential. This potential is to be realised, largely through infrastructure development, trade and agricultural promotion. Realising this potential may cede considerable economic benefits, however it is recognised that in order to ensure sustainable development, environmental concerns are of critical importance.