New questions asked about Laos dam toll, builder’s role
Civil society groups say govt toll of about 40 is not credible, that 800 or more people could have died in July; while Korean lawmaker claims the firm building the dam altered the design and lowered the height to boost profit The official death toll given by Vientiane for the dam disaster in southern Laos […]
Hydroelectric Power in Laos: Economic Security in Energy-Hungry South-East Asia
Background Hydroelectricity is at the core of Laos’ strategy to become the “Battery of Asia”. The export of electricity to neighbouring high-growth states, such as Thailand, is predicted to stimulate economic development. The average Laotian is likely to benefit from new employment opportunities, greater access to electricity and the development of infrastructure related to hydroelectric […]
In Laos, a World Bank ‘model’ dam and the myth of sustainable hydropower
BANGKOK — It wasn’t a flood. It was a tsunami, Premrudee Daorung said of the wall of water that tore through the forests of Laos’ Attapeu province, snapping timber like matchsticks and flattening entire villages. The July collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy saddle dam in southern Laos and the widespread disaster that followed made international headlines. But Premrudee, coordinator […]
Renewable energy high priority for Mekong region: scientists
QUẢNG NINH — Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam must work closer together to make the shift to using more renewable energy. This a vital step in attaining the region’s as well as each country’s sustainable development, said Prof. Đặng Nguyên Anh, Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS). “Energy and water […]
Serba Dinamik to acquire stake in firm involved in Laos hydropower project
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd plans to acquire a 49% stake in OHP Ventures Incorporated (OHP Ventures) for US$800,000 or approximately RM3.33 million to expand its EPCC (engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning) business segment and capabilities. As a shareholder of OHP Ventures, Serba Dinamik may also reap benefits from an energy project […]
Green transformation crucial for adaptation to climate change
Quang Ninh (VNA) – Green transformation for energy and water resource security in the Mekong Sub-region is crucial for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to respond to climate change, experts said at a seminar held in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on October 16. The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social […]
Chinese investment in Laos’ energy sector tops 15 billion USD
Vientiane (VNA) – Laos is among 15 countries worldwide receiving the biggest investment from China in the energy sector, Vientiane Times on October 15 quoted a World Bank report as saying. By 2017, China’s investment in the field in Laos hit 15 billion USD and is expected to continue rising in the years to come, […]
China Reshapes The Vital Mekong River To Power Its Expansion
Chinese tourists account for more visitors to Thailand — and much of Southeast Asia — than from any other country. The Thai village of Sob Ruak, at the heart of the Golden Triangle region where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, is no exception. Tour buses routinely disgorge thousands of Chinese tourists to buy trinkets, […]