News
Sanakam dam anger grows
A conservation group has called for the scrapping of the Sanakam dam which is being built in Laos on the Mekong River two kilometres from Nan province. The group urged Laos and neighbouring countries to embrace more ecological friendly renewable energy projects such as solar cells ...
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Authorities earmark $3 million to fix Mekong River erosion
The southern province of An Giang has allocated VND70 billion ($3 million) to address erosion caused by a sediment-poor Mekong River branch. The emergency plan, which draws funding from the national budget, will be implemented until the end of next year to counter erosion along the ...
Cuu Long
The Mekong doesn't need more destructive dams
On 11 May, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced that the proposed Sanakham hydropower project in Laos will undergo the MRC’s Prior Consultation process. Sanakham is the sixth mainstream dam to be submitted for Prior Consultation. The proposed Sanakham dam is expensive, unnecessary and risky — ...
SAVE THE MEKONG COALITION
Southern Myanmar’s indigenous groups say the UN should scrap $21 million conservation plan
Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region is among the most vibrantly biodiverse places in Asia. The southern tail of kite-shaped Myanmar, Tanintharyi encompasses hundreds of islands in the Myeik Archipelago, mangrove-lined coast, evergreen forests and the mountainous spine that forms the Thai-Myanmar border. The region holds some of Southeast ...
Skylar Lindsay
Green consumption campaign to feature many new initiatives
The 2020 Green consumption campaign will take place from June 6 to 30 with many new initiatives and environmental projects, announced its organiser on June 3. The campaign is the 11th of its kind to be hosted by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) Newspaper ...
CSOs express concerns on Lao’s Mekong hydro project
Five civil society organisations (CSOs) in Cambodia working on the Luang Prabang hydropower project in Laos said in a press statement on Tuesday that it should be delayed because Lao authorities have insufficient details concerning the transboundary impact assessment and don’t have concrete measures to ...
Soth Koemsoeun
Farmers given 90 days to hand in chemicals
Manufacturers or importers of hazardous agrochemicals paraquat and chlorpyrifos — which are banned under Thai law — have 270 days to destroy their stock while a 90-day deadline has also been given to farmers to return the chemicals for destruction as their possession is considered ...
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Laos' debt woes worsen as bills for China-funded dams loom
COVID-19 has rattled Laos’ debut in selling a U.S. dollar bond in international markets, adding pressure on a country whose “Wild West of dam building” splurge has put it in a precarious repayment situation, especially in regard to China, its leading lender. Sources familiar with the ...
MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR
Mekong River offshoot erodes like a drill
A sediment-poor Mekong River branch cutting through An Giang Province is causing erosion due to rapid water flow. A three kilometer section of Hau River, a branch of the Mekong, is straitened by half in width when passing through An Giang’s Chau Phu District. Besides this natural ...
Cuu Long
Drought, scorching summer demand turn the heat on power industry
Prolonged drought and increased summer demand are exerting great pressure on the electricity industry as water levels in several major dams drop significantly. Doan Tien Cuong, director of Ialy Hydropower Company, told local media that water level at the 720 MW Ialy Hydropower Plant in the ...
Dang Khoa