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Samakomlao -> Samakomlao Main -> General -> Thai plans to build hydro power dam on Mekong river
Post Info TOPIC: Thai plans to build hydro power dam on Mekong river
Anonymous

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Thai plans to build hydro power dam on Mekong river
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Plan for massive dam on Mekong

 

The Energy Ministry is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the MekongRiver which could be opposed by countries downstream.

The proposed dam in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani would power a 1,800-megawatt generator for an estimated investment of Bt90 billion.

Prof Prakob Virojkut, president of UbonRatchathaniUniversity, said the project would be likely to face several major obstacles, especially opposition from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Building the massive structure on the Mekong, an international river, would affect the flow of water and hinder river transport as well as the ecosystem, according to Prakob.

"However, we should wait for the study's findings to see if there are more pros than cons. It won't be easy to implement such a massive scheme since there would be a wide range of impacts domestically and internationally," he said, adding that Laos might be the first nation to oppose the idea because the project would affect its sales of electricity to Thailand.

Panya Consultant and Mako Consultant have been commissioned to carry out the feasibility study on the dam project and complete it by April.

Pinyo Boonyong, president of the Phonaklang Sub-district Administrative Organisation, Khong Jiam, Ubon Ratchatani province, said little information on the scheme had been given to local residents so far.

He said other sub-districts on the banks of the Mekong had only recently been told of the project by the ministry's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).

They are Huay Phai in Khong Jiam district and Samrong, Phosai and Nhamtang in Sri Moung Mai district.

"Most villagers who live on the Mekong would be negative about such a project, as was the case 17 years ago with the construction of the Pak Moon Dam. If the government went ahead with this project, there would be local residents opposing it due to their previous negative experience.

"In the past couple of years, China has started building dams upstream on the Mekong. Many people have since complained that there is now less water for agriculture, because lots of water is diverted for electricity generation by the Chinese," he said.

Pinyo said the government would also have to thoroughly consider compensation and resettlement programmes for affected villagers if it went ahead with the scheme.The Nationhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/04/headlines/headlines_30054816.php

 



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Anonymous

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I wonder how Thai would dare to build the hydro power dam on Mekong river. On the one hand, according to French-Thai agreement signed when France ruled Laos, Thai has a right on Mekong just 25 metres from the bank.

If the Mekong flows through Thai land, of course, Thai would be able to do or even think about it. But here, the place where Thai plans to build is between Lao and Thai, Saravane province of Laos and Ubon Ratchani of Thailand.

I don't know what is coming to their mind?  Whether they still think that the Lao side is part of Thailand?      

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Anonymous

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Yes, Thai people always want to take advantages over Lao.
That is the fact. Be careful with Thai people. As our old proverb is  saying:" Listening to Thai people, our rice store would be fired".    

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paris_vientiane


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Building too many dams over Mekong river and you'll kill the Mekong, and cause huge damage to people living around the river!

Laos can see the consequences of chinese dams over mekong yet... they should not allow anyone to make things worse again!

Mekong belong to all the people who live around the river, across many countries! No one have the right to damage the water flows without care the consequences for others!

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http://www.paris-vientiane.fr
Anonymous

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I too wondered about the legal consequences. I knew Thailand only owned so far. As far as damage to Laos and the Lao people, I believe the affects to be much smaller than the 60 some dams in the plans by Lao govt. Of course in this case it's lowland Lao being affected and most of the other dams affect Lao seung.

If all these dams were to provide electricity to the Lao people I'd say it's worth it. If to sell to Thailand or China or Vietnam, this is a good example of what can happen. What if they decide not to buy the power from Laos. Or what if the money is lost due to corruption.

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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:

I wonder how Thai would dare to build the hydro power dam on Mekong river. On the one hand, according to French-Thai agreement signed when France ruled Laos, Thai has a right on Mekong just 25 metres from the bank.

If the Mekong flows through Thai land, of course, Thai would be able to do or even think about it. But here, the place where Thai plans to build is between Lao and Thai, Saravane province of Laos and Ubon Ratchani of Thailand.

I don't know what is coming to their mind?  Whether they still think that the Lao side is part of Thailand?      


This is exactly what Chinese has done.  Thai just wanted to follow suit.  Why don't you blame Chinese or stop them from the beginning?



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Anonymous

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I am surprised by someone who asked stupid question:" Why don't we blame Chinese...?" In the Chinese case I did not worry much because they built dams in in their own land, but here it would not be the same.
 If the dams were built in Thailand, definitely no single Lao person would object, no doubt.

Please think first before you give any comments.   

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Anonymous

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Yes, the Chinese case and this case are totally different issue. The Chinese dams were built in Chinese land, but this case Thai will buit a dam in Lao land as Thai has right to use Mekong River only 25 metres from the bank of Thai side. In other words, the Lao-Thai border line is just 25 metres from the bank of Thai side.

That's why I cannot imagine how Thai would build such dam?  

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Anonymous

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Wait so when the Lao government builds dams, fully operated by the GOVERNMENT, no one cares?

But all of a sudden when a Thai company wants to build one, everyone cries?

Then you want to take into cosideration the racial tensions? riight.

I think you all have the wrong mindset. I don't think it should matter who builds the dams, as long as it doesn't affect the flow of the Mekong so much.

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Anonymous

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It would probably be easy to build. There are two ways to get a lot of power for electric. Let the water fall a long way.. high dam, or wide dam. Like above Kone falls. Divert the water where you want.

As I said there are many agreements and understandings being signed right now to build a whole lot of dams in Laos. 25% Lao and the rest Viet or Chinese or Thai companies.

Why shouldn't the Thai dam the Mekong, it's thiers.

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Anonymous

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Thai must not build any dam at Mekhong rever. It is very bad effect to the people who live along the Mekhong rever. Hopefully, Lao Government and other countries, which will get the efftect from this event, strongly oppose for this event.

Please do not allow they do that

Thank you

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Saffron


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I am looking at the map right now and I don't see any area where they can build a dam. The area of the Mekong belong to them is too small. The only place the can build is around Moung Phonton...and that belong to Laos territory. If Laos let them do this than Lao People Democrat Party (LPRP) got to be really stupid. Maybe the members will get smart and take the bribe money. Don't care about Lao land and people.

Look at Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Vietnam got no Land to expand, no tree. I am sure they have oil off the coast. They just going save their oil well ando suck Laos dry.

Thailand have mo more forest. They hare only small area on the west side near Burma. That is it. What ever they have they are killing each other over it. They even kill monk to control the forest where the temples are built.

Cambodia no land and losing or already lost their forest. They have oil but it is control by the Thai.

Laos got it all. The LPRP better take good care of it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=pakse,+laos&ie=UTF8&ll=16.530898,103.842773&spn=8.943609,14.941406&t=h&z=6&om=0


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"Because I criticized Laos government and it policies, it does not mean I want Laos to remain poor nor do I think Lao people are lazy or uneducated."
Anonymous

Date:
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Anonymous wrote:

Wait so when the Lao government builds dams, fully operated by the GOVERNMENT, no one cares?

But all of a sudden when a Thai company wants to build one, everyone cries?

Then you want to take into cosideration the racial tensions? riight.

I think you all have the wrong mindset. I don't think it should matter who builds the dams, as long as it doesn't affect the flow of the Mekong so much.


So far there has been no any dams built by Lao government on Mekong river. They built on their land.




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Anonymous

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Saffron wrote:

I am looking at the map right now and I don't see any area where they can build a dam. The area of the Mekong belong to them is too small. The only place the can build is around Moung Phonton...and that belong to Laos territory.

Thai plans to build the dam on Mekong river between Khongjiam district of Thailand and Khongsedone district of Laos. ( see the map).

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Khonjiam,+thailand&ie=UTF8&ll=16.530898,103.842773&spn=8.943609,14.941406&t=h&z=6&om=0



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Anonymous

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I believe there shouldn't be any DAM along the MEKONG River because the river belongs to many countries not just any particularly country. If the Thai want to build it, they do not have the right to do it. SOUTH EAST Asian countries ( CAMBODIA, LAO, VIETNAM) should stop this plan.

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Saffron


Senior Member

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Posts: 288
Date:
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Anonymous wrote:

I believe there shouldn't be any DAM along the MEKONG River because the river belongs to many countries not just any particularly country. If the Thai want to build it, they do not have the right to do it. SOUTH EAST Asian countries ( CAMBODIA, LAO, VIETNAM) should stop this plan.



 You are right about that. The countries you listed also voices thier opinion on the  Chinese dam as it was being contructed. That didn't stop them to build the dam on their portion of the Mekong. I think it is finished now.



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"Because I criticized Laos government and it policies, it does not mean I want Laos to remain poor nor do I think Lao people are lazy or uneducated."
Anonymous

Date:
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Anonymous wrote:

I am surprised by someone who asked stupid question:" Why don't we blame Chinese...?" In the Chinese case I did not worry much because they built dams in in their own land, but here it would not be the same.
 If the dams were built in Thailand, definitely no single Lao person would object, no doubt.

Please think first before you give any comments.   


Wise men say "Only Fools rush in".

Read 1st chapter (พพ.ปัดฝุ่นสร้างเขื่อนในแม่น้ำโขง..) and 7th chapter (ส่วนที่มองว่าโครงการนี้เกิดขึ้นได้ยาก... ) of following articles and ask yourself, "Who's the real stupid?"

http://guideubon.com/news/view.php?t=17&s_id=382&d_id=382


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Anonymous

Date:
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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am surprised by someone who asked stupid question:" Why don't we blame Chinese...?" In the Chinese case I did not worry much because they built dams in in their own land, but here it would not be the same.
 If the dams were built in Thailand, definitely no single Lao person would object, no doubt.

Please think first before you give any comments.   


Wise men say "Only Fools rush in".

Read 1st chapter (พพ.ปัดฝุ่นสร้างเขื่อนในแม่น้ำโขง..) and 7th chapter (ส่วนที่มองว่าโครงการนี้เกิดขึ้นได้ยาก... ) of following articles and ask yourself, "Who's the real stupid?"

http://guideubon.com/news/view.php?t=17&s_id=382&d_id=382

Sorry, 1st and 7th paragraphs not chapter.



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Anonymous

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Ha! Even Lao school students would say no to this project, not to mention what would say Lao government. I am wondering why these people would still waste their time?

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Anonymous

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Because Laos has the east bank, and Thailand has the west bank of the Mekong, I don't think Thailand can build it without agreement, or approval,or cooporation of Laos government.

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