Laos pushes ahead with Mekong dam without consulting neighbours

Laos is to forge ahead with a second hydro power dam on the Mekong river, side-stepping its commitment to consult its downstream neighbours before starting work.

Laos on Monday notified the Mekong River Commission (MRC), a consultative body that works with lower basin countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - of its intent to build the 260-megawatt Don Sahong Dam, despite calls from foreign donors to consult neighbours that face a risk of depleted fish stocks and damaged livelihoods.

The four countries are bound by a treaty to hold inter-governmental consultations before building any dams.

"This is a shared river and the dam will bring devastation to Laos' neighbours ... they should demand that Laos undergo the consultation process," Ame Trandem, Southeast Asia Program Director for International Rivers, said in an interview.

Officials from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam were not immediately available for comment.

The three countries have repeatedly voiced concern about Laos failing to honour a consultation agreement on a bigger project, the $3.5 billion, 1,260 megawatt Xayaburi dam, for which it held a groundbreaking ceremony late last year.

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