Myanmar and Laos Announce Plans for Largest Downstream Mekong Dam
Myanmar and Laos unveil plans for the largest hydropower project on the Mekong River, sparking regional and environmental concerns.
POLICY WIRE — City, Country — Myanmar and Laos have announced plans to construct the largest hydropower project on the Mekong River, a 2,790-megawatt dam located at the remote, mountainous border between the two nations.
The project, which would be the biggest hydropower initiative on the river’s mainstream outside of China, was outlined following a 34-month joint feasibility study. The study was agreed upon during Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing’s state visit to Vientiane on July 4.
Officials from both countries have emphasized the potential benefits of the project, including increased energy production and economic cooperation. However, analysts suggest that the study’s outcomes may hold more significance than the dam itself, given the complex geopolitical and environmental factors at play.
The proposed dam has already drawn attention from environmental groups and regional stakeholders, who raise concerns about the potential impact on the Mekong’s ecosystem and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the river.
Further details regarding the project’s timeline, funding, and environmental mitigation measures are expected to be released following the completion of the feasibility study.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
