How many dams are in Laos?
How many dams are in Laos?
Laos has 78 dams in operation and has signed memorandums of understanding for 246 other hydroelectric projects in its quest to become the “battery of Asia” that exports electricity to neighboring countries, primarily Thailand.
Who owns the Xayaburi Dam?
Xayaburi Power Company Limited
| Xayaburi Dam | |
|---|---|
| Construction cost | US$3.8 billion |
| Owner(s) | Xayaburi Power Company Limited |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Run-of-river concrete barrage |
Who built dams in Laos?
China, which calls the Mekong the Lancang, has built at least eight dams on the river since the 1990s and has dozens more planned or under construction. Chinese companies have put $7 billion toward building Special Economic Zones, dams, mines, and rubber plantations in Laos, according to official sources.
How much did the Xayaburi Dam cost?
About Xayaburi dam The US$ 3.8 billion project is expected to generate 1,260 megawatts of electricity, around 95% of which will be exported to Thailand.
How many dams has Laos built on the Mekong?
Laos has already built 79 dams on the Mekong’s mainstream and tributaries on its way to building 100 dams by 2030, according to the country’s ministry of energy and mines. The government of the landlocked and impoverished country has turned to dams, built through loans, as a financial lifeline.
Who does the Xayaburi dam benefit?
While hydropower is one of the country’s main exports, Lao PDR still has to import electricity. And although the government says the Xayaburi dam will improve access to electricity for its citizens, nearly all of the power it produces will be sold to Thailand.
When was the first dam built on the Mekong?
China completed its first mainstream hydropower dam on the Mekong, the Manwan dam in Yunnan province, in 1995, and has since planned and built 10 more.
Who does the Xayaburi Dam benefit?
Where is the Xayaburi Dam being built?
Laos
The Xayaburi Dam is a hydropower project under construction on the Mekong River in northwest Laos, just across the border from Nan Province, Thailand.
What is the Xayaburi Dam?
The Xayaburi dam is a hydropower project under construction on the Mekong River in northwest Laos, just across the border from Nan Province, Thailand.
Who is the developer of Xayaburi Power Project?
The project is developed by Xayaburi Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Thai construction company CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited.
When did the dam construction begin in Thailand?
Dam construction began on 15 March 2012. CH. Karnchang announced on 17 April 2012 the signing of a 52 billion baht contract with the Xayaburi Power Company. Preliminary construction (roads, bridges, support facilities) had accelerated in the prior few months.
What is the Vietnam government’s stance on the Xayaburi hydropower project?
The Vietnamese government called for “the decision on the Xayaburi hydropower project as well as all other planned hydropower projects on the Mekong mainstream be deferred for at least 10 years,” a recommendation endorsed by the MRC in 2010. The Vietnamese government has also warned that projects like Xayaburi risk regional conflict.
