Dam building slows in Southeast Asia

Hydropower dams in parts of Southeast Asia are being canceled or suspended as governments face stronger opposition, forcing them to take greater responsibility for environmental and social impact or look to other sources of energy. The resistance, in a region where vast hydropower potential remains untapped, occurs as energy demand is skyrocketing. With dams facing opposition over social, environmental and geopolitical factors, the days of indiscriminate building may be coming to an end, requiring countries to reconsider energy security and energy sharing in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, the government shelved plans for more than 420 small hydropower dams in October after a public outcry over safety. The backlash followed the deaths of dozens of people after operators felt no choice but to release water from reservoirs overwhelmed by heavy rains. Cambodia, too, is facing difficult questions about proposed new dams as alleged shoddy building resulted in dam collapses. […] Jake Maxwell Watts http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303448204579340180863634044?mod=googlenews_wsj

 Jake Maxwell Watts
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303448204579340180863634044?mod=googlenews_wsj