Don Sahong

While China is midway through the construction of a controversial cascade of major dam projects on the Upper Mekong mainstream, the lower stretch of the river shared by Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam has so far escaped hydropower development. But now there are troubling signs that the tide is turning, as Laos and Cambodia offer up stretches of the mighy Mekong to dam builders.

The mainstream Mekong dam at the most advanced stage of consideration is Don Sahong in the Khone Falls area of Laos. Mega First Corporation Berhard from Malaysia is conducting a feasibility study on Don Sahong that is expected to be completed shortly. The 240 megawatt (MW) dam would generate power for export to either Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam. Although little information is available about Don Sahong, news reports estimate the project cost to be $300 million.

Khone Falls is the only waterfall on the lower Mekong and is a key area for Mekong fisheries. The Don Sahong Dam, located less than one kilometer upstream of the Cambodia border, would block the sole channel that fish migrating up from Cambodia can easily pass, known as Hoo Sahong in Laos. As a result, the dam could prevent fish migrations up the Mekong River from Cambodia and Vietnam to Laos and Thailand, ultimately undermining fisheries-based livelihoods in all four countries. In fact, a Mekong River Commission 1996 newsletter noted: "The blocking of Hoo Sahong could devastate much of the most important Mekong River fisheries in Laos."

Don Sahong would be located just upriver from Laos' only year-round population of Irrawaddy dolphins. In addition to the dam's devastating impacts on fisheries, Don Sahong would likely lead to the extinction of Irrawaddy dolphins along the Lao-Cambodia border and destroy local tourism that depends on them. The Don Sahong Dam would also negatively affect people living on Don Sahong and Don Sadam islands near the proposed dam site.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

World's Largest Catfish Species Threatened by Dam

Mekong River Commission Comes Under Fire

Activists concerned over dams

Concerns Rise with Planned Lao Dam on Mekong

MRC's crisis of legitimacy and relevancy challenges new CEO: Regional Groups

CONTACT US:

Carl Middleton
carl [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+1 510 848 1155

Shannon Lawrence
shannon [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+216 23 456 969