In the Face of Criticism, Laos Pushes Ahead With Four Mekong Dams
As a struggling least developed country, Laos stands alone when it comes to ignoring common sense and pushing ahead with infrastructure development that it can ill-afford and is unlikely to deliver its much hoped-for rags to riches outcome.
Energy and Mines Minister Sinavav Souphanouvong made that clear when declaring that construction four highly contentious dams across the mainstream of the Mekong River would proceed despite a mountain of evidence detailing the potential damage to downstream countries.
Those four straddle the Mekong at Pak Beng, Luang Prabang, Pak Lay, and Sanakham, where officials are hoping to take advantage of demand for electricity from across the Thai border.
Luke Hunt
