Laos’ Luang Prabang dam reaches key development stage
The Luang Prabang hydropower project has reached another key development stage after the government asked the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to host the prior consultation on the project.
The government authorised the Vietnam Petro Power Corporation to build the Luang Prabang hydro plant in 2007. As the dam will be located in the Mekong mainstream, the government must request the MRC to hold a prior consultation on the project under the 1995 Mekong Agreement.
The Mekong River Commission, which is an inter-governmental body comprising Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, announced on October 1 that it had received an official request from the Lao government to conduct the prior consultation for the 1,460MW hydropower project on July 31.
Ekaphone Phouthonesy
