Power Trade

International River’s briefing paper outlines threats arising from the Mekong Power Grid scheme, proposed by the ADB, that would facilitate the construction of numerous hydropower schemes in Laos, Burma, and China’s Yunnan province to feed the power–hungry cities of Thailand and Vietnam.

The ADB is conducting a study designed to develop a regional energy sector strategy for the Mekong Region. IRN’s analysis identifies several limitations in the design of the study including fundamental shortcomings with the proposed participatory processes, and calls on the ADB to support civil societies call for a Comprehensive Energy Options Assessment for the Mekong Region.

Thirty NGOs – mostly from the Mekong region – have written to the Asian Development Bank urging the Bank to work with regional governments, donors and civil society to undertake a participatory assessment of the region’s energy needs – and the best options for meeting these needs – in line with World Commission on Dams’ recommendations.

Read IRN's letter to ADB. Read ADB's response.

The Asian Development Bank has spent millions of dollars over the past 12 years on studies investigating energy options in the Greater Mekong Subregion. All of these studies were heavily biased toward promoting a regional grid fueled by hydropower, and none have included a comprehensive options assessment in line with World Commission on Dams recommendations. In this edition of World Reviews Review, Aviva Imhof looks at the mountains of paper from past ADB studies and examines what a true options assessment might look like.

NGO's write to the ADB to call for the suspension of the proposed Greater Mekong Subregion Power Interconnection Project Phase 1 regional technical assistance grant. The grant would design a transmission line from Nam Theun 2 to Vietnam during peak load periods and from the proposed Nam Theun 1 Hydropower Project in Laos to Vietnam and Thailand.

At a time when the Burmese military regime has come under increasing international pressure following a violent attack on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters, the Asian Development Bank is promoting a massive power grid fueled by hydropower dams in Burma, China and Laos - all places where public opposition is stifled. The power grid plan was unveiled just weeks after at least 70 people, mostly youth activists, were killed in the May 30 attack on Suu Kyi''s motorcade, according to eyewitness accounts. Read the full article.

IRN calls on the ADB to suspend its Mekong Power Grid plan, on the basis that it violates a number of the bank's own policies.

Comparing the Mekong Power Grid to ADB Policies

The Asian Development Bank is promoting the development of a regional power grid and electricity trading system in mainland Southeast Asia fueled primary by hydropower. This initiative threatens to undermine the fragile Mekong River ecosystem that millions depend on for their livelihoods and survival. This paper examines the ADB's development of the initiative and its compliance with Bank policies and strategies.

Opinion piece by Dr. Chris Greacen published in the Bangkok Post that outlines why the Mekong Power Grid is risky for electricity consumers in the region.