Since 2007, interest in the potential for hydropower development in the lower part of the basin has escalated. Many new proposals to develop hydropower schemes are being advanced by Mekong governments and the private sector, both on the tributaries; and more recently, a revival of interest on the mainstream, on the Lao, Lao-Thai and Cambodian reaches of the Mekong mainstream. Click to find out more about proposed hydropower developments
Hydropower brings with it several concerns regarding the potential for impact on the environment, fisheries and people's livelihoods. These concerns need to be balanced with the economic and poverty alleviation priorities of the MRC Member Countries. The MRC is working with Mekong governments to develop coordinated and integrated impact assessments, consistent and fair mitigation measures, and hydropower development strategies and policies.
The Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) was formulated in Development in 2008 and endorsed by the MRC Joint Committee in March 2009. The Initiative is coordinated across many of MRC's programmes and includes a range of activities, for example:
Facilitating
dialogue to balance economic, social and environmental performance
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Central to the MRC's role in helping governments plan and
strategize sustainable hydropower schemes is the need to facilitate
dialogue on hydropower issues among the major stakeholder
groups. More »
The
Increasing interest in hydropower development in the Mekong
Basin
There are several factors driving the increased interest in
the potential for hydropower on the Mekong. Volatility in
the price of oil and gas and concerns over climate change
have all intensified the focus on hydropower. More
»
Hydropower
and the 1995 Mekong Agreement
The development of mainstream dams in the lower Mekong Basin,
in particular, is perhaps the most important strategic decision
the four counties of the LMB have faced since the signing
of the 1995 Mekong Agreement on the cooperation for sustainable
development of the Mekong basin. More
»
Understanding the
sustainable development implications of mainstream Mekong
dams – the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
An immediate priority for the MRC is to assess the long-term
implications of mainstream dam proposals and provide a broader
understanding of the risks and opportunities. While the benefits
of hydropower are potentially considerable for Mekong countries,
the construction of one or more of the 11 hydropower schemes
currently under consideration would have profound implications
for the sustainable development of the basin. To identify
and assess these implications the MRC recently launched a
14-month Strategic Environmental Assessment process. More
»
Guidance for dam design founded on the principles of integrated water resource management
While Implementation of the proposed hydropower schemes on the mainstream Mekong brings potential opportunities for economic development, mainly with improved electricity supply and navigation, the projects will inevitably be accompanied by major risks in the four Member Countries.
One of the ways that the MRC is helping to assess the balance
between opportunity and risk for these proposed projects is
to highlight a range of key issues that need to be considered
by developers at the project design stage as well as by MRC
Bodies, government line-agencies and other stakeholders when
any proposed hydropower scheme is submitted for the MRC prior
consultation process (as part
of the PNPCA) . This preliminary guidance includes a range
of minimum standards, performance targets and best practices
for reducing the environmental and social risks posed by hydropower
schemes. More »
Support
for implementation of Prior Notification, Prior Consultation
Procedures
According to the 1995 Mekong Agreement, before Member Countries
may initiate any large scale infrastructure development on
the Mekong, they must notify and consult with other riparian
states in the basin. This process is formalised in the Procedures
for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA).
The MRC supports the various MRC bodies and national line-agencies
in implementing this process. More
»
Formulating
the cross-cutting Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower
The MRC's Initiative
on Sustainable Hydropower formally began a number of fast-track
activities in 2008. Work to determine the final structure
continued throughout 2008 involving national and regional
multi-stakeholder consultations. More
»
MRC position on proposed mainstream hydropower dams:
At least 11 hydropower dams are currently being studied by private sector developers for the mainstream of the Mekong. The 1995 Mekong Agreement requires that such projects are discussed extensively among all four countries prior to any decision being taken. That discussion, facilitated by MRC, will consider the full range of social, environmental and cross-sector development impacts within the Lower Mekong Basin. So far, none of the prospective developers have reached the stage of notification and prior consultation required under the Mekong Agreement. MRC's position is that it supports sustainable hydropower development implemented within the framework of the 1995 Mekong Agreement and which serves the joint interests of its member countries. MRC has already carried out extensive studies on the consequences for fisheries and peoples livelihoods and this information is widely available, see for example a report of an expert group meeting on dams and fisheries. MRC is undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the proposed mainstream dams to provide a broader understanding of the risks and opportunities of such development. Dialogue on these planned projects with governments, civil society and the private sector is being facilitated by MRC and all comments received will be considered.