Laos will start to build a controversial
multi-billion dollar dam that will
affect its neighboring countries. The river that will be controlled by the dam
is shared among 4 countries – Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. All
countries rely on the river system for fish and irrigation. The Laos government
has agreed to make changes in the dam’s design to “reassure neighboring
countries” that will not affect the completion of the project by 2019.
Hydropower projects in the region have increased and control for river and
water sources has become a source of conflict. The continued demand for sources
of energy promotes such projects. Laos is one of the poorest countries and the
communist government is relying on the dam project to produce electricity that
they can sell to neighboring countries such as Thailand. Concerns of 60 million
people that will be affected by the dam project range from fish migration and
sediment flow, it will also affect their transportation, food, and economy.
by Albert Aguirre
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