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SINGAPORE / TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) – Extending from its headwaters into the high altitude Tibetan plateau to its final point in the swamps of the Vietnam Delta, the mighty Mekong River is one of the largest ecosystems of the world.
represents much more: the source of energy behind ambitious hydroelectric construction and decades of potential economic growth.
Now, the landlocked nation's dream of becoming the "battery of Asia" fueled by many hydroelectric projects has been catastrophic. decline after the collapse on Monday, July 23, of a dam connected to a $ 1 billion project supported by his communist government as well as Thai and South Korean companies.
The Mekong Harness Race and its tributaries It has existed for years and reflects the insatiable energy demand of Southeast Asia, projected last year by the International Atomic Energy Agency. the energy to increase by about 66 percent by 2040.
Chinese investors are bankro The dam failed this week, as a result of another incident that occurred at the Last autumn. Questions arose about the capacity of the Lao government led by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and President Bounnhang Vorachith to safely manage the wave of investments from international energy and construction companies who do business there.
Still, there may be little incentive for a one-party state like Laos to curb. Its bet on hydropower boils down to economic survival: it supplies this nation nearly 7 million of almost all its electricity consumption, and excess electricity sales to neighboring countries are a source Crucial export revenue.
I think this is going to affect the government too much, "said Dane Chamorro, a former US diplomat and senior partner of the Control Risks consulting firm in Singapore.
" The Prime Minister is new and well regarded, and Given the importance of the For China, the financing of hydropower projects in the Mekong region improves its energy security and provides additional geopolitical leverage over Southeast Asia. This has raised concerns in the region, particularly in Vietnam, that China could block downstream water flows.
"There has been controversy over China's Asian-funded hydropower projects," Simon Nicholas, Energy Economics Analyst and Financial Analysis, by email
Environmental Groups Concerned also whether project engineers and construction companies have been well prepared for climate change and torrential rains in recent years. There is also concern about the increasing vulnerability of hydropower fisheries and dam networks in Laos and Cambodia to fisheries and rice production.
"The collapse of the dam shows that the current hydroelectric development policy for export and rapid escalation Maureen Harris, program director for Southeast Asia, a environmental group, said that great concerns had been expressed about the capacity of the Government of Laos to manage infrastructure projects. "This is clearly what has failed"
"It's this lack of capabilities in Laos that has led to an open door policy for private-sector investors from outside the country who have clearly failed to follow the appropriate standards. "Heavy rains this week caused major floods from southern China to Vietnam and played a role in the collapse of the dam related to the project. Hydropower, a joint venture between SK Engineering & Construction Co., Thailand's Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding plc, Korea Western Power Co. and the Government of Laos.
Engineers fought for nearly 24 hours to prevent the failure of the dam, according to SK Engineering. However, small dams for development have failed under torrential rains.
The failure of the dam in the southeastern province of Attapeu caused flash floods that engulfed villages and left more than 6,000 homeless, thousands missing and at least 20 dead. The Attapeu bombing follows the collapse of another dam at the end of last year in the central province of Xaisomboun, according to Keith Barney, professor of public policy at the Australian National University
. "Construction standards and the regulatory process seem to require improvement," Barney said. "This could be a timely moment for a thoughtful pause in the dizzying expansion of hydropower in Laos."
While the Government of Laos may express regret, it will likely continue, according to Milton Osborne, author of "The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future."
It is planned to build up to 120 dams on the Mekong and its tributaries, most of which is destined for Laos, he said.
"It is in Laos that the largest expansion of tributary dams is planned as part of the determination of this country to become the battery of Southeast Asia", he added.
"They will make every effort to change the plans, the dams along the Mekong, it is such a poor country, they have very few alternatives."
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