Hydropower developments in the Lower Mekong Basin are developing rapidly, with the advent of numerous private-sector/government partnerships and proposals, both on the tributaries and for the Mekong mainstream. High oil and gas prices and concerns over climate change have intensified the focus on hydropower as a renewable technology. Upstream developments on the Lancang-Mekong are also influencing investment decisions downstream.
Under the 1995 Mekong Agreement, the MRC member states cooperate to "optimise the multiple-use and mutual benefits" of water resources and to "minimise the harmful effects that might result from natural occurrences and man-made activities". Based on this mandate, the Hydropower Programme with other MRC programmes to fulfill the following roles in relation to the sustainable development of hydropower:
Actions
The programme follows a multi-track approach. Track 1 is aimed
at improving understanding of the regional implications of
hydropower projects. Some aspects such as changes in flow
regime, water quality and sedimentation are already incorporated
into the study of cumulative impacts of various development
scenarios under the Basin Development Plan
and this study will be supported by the Hydropower Programme.
Particular focus is required to address one of the most important
questions facing mainstream hydropower development - to what
extent can the barrier effect of mainstream dams be minimised
or successfully mitigated? This issue goes beyond the ability
of any single developer, line agency or consultant to answer
and requires the broader regional perspective and independent
analytic approach that the MRC is able to facilitate.
Track 1 activities underway:
» Expert Group
meeting on the Barrier Effect of Dams to Fish Migration, 22-23
September, 2008
» Regional
Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on the MRC Hydropower Programme,
25-27 September 2008
» Hydropower
Database
» Environmental
Considerations for Sustainable Hydropower Development
Track 2 Activities
»Facilitating
Dialogue on Hydropower Development
» Proceedings of Regional Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on the MRC Hydropower Programme, 25-27 September 2008, Vientiane, Lao PDR
» Presentations from Regional Multi-Stakeholders Consultation, 25-27 September 2008, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Hydropower project Maps
» Proposed, under construction, and existing projects
» Existing projects by capacity