PRESS RELEASE | Inga 3: An Exclusive Development Deal for Chinese and European companies

By: Rudo Sanyanga, former Africa Program Director & Ange Asanzi, former Africa Campaign Coordinator On October 16, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government announced a 14 billion USD joint and exclusive development agreement with a consortium of Chinese and European developers to construct the Inga 3 hydroelectric dam, following years of delay and controversy….

PRESS RELEASE | Dam collapse in Laos displaces thousands, exposes dam safety risks

By: Maureen Harris, Programs Director International Rivers expresses its concern and regret about the tragic loss of life and hardship facing communities living downstream of the collapsed dam in Lao PDR. An auxillary dam that was part of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower scheme on the Xepian River collapsed the night of July 23 as…

PRESS RELEASE | UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribes Kenya’s Lake Turkana as “in danger” over Gibe Dam impacts

Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee took the decision to officially inscribe Lake Turkana as a World Heritage site “in danger” because of severe impacts caused by the Gibe 3 Dam, constructed upstream on Ethiopia’s Omo River. The dam and associated sugar plantations have severely restricted flows into Kenya’s Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake. “We…

PRESS RELEASE | HidroAysén Cancelled

Chile Rejects Environmental Approval of Patagonia Megadams FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Berkeley, US: Today Chile’s Committee of Ministers – the country’s highest administrative authority – cancelled the environmental permits for five controversial dams proposed on two of Chilean Patagonia’s wildest rivers – the culmination of an eight-year battle. “This is the right move and an import step…

Press Center

Welcome to the Press Center. Here you will find our current press releases and statements, media contacts, and other resources for journalists. For all other media inquiries, please reach out to our Communications Manager, Bonnie Barclay at bbarclay@internationalrivers.org or +1 323 363 4874 Spokespeople Press Releases PRESS RELEASE | Namibia at an Energy Crossroads: continue…

Least-cost energy investment study for Namibia

An analysis of the costs, risks and impacts of pursuing an energy future reliant on hydropower versus solar and wind Background Namibia currently has a small energy system that is dominated by its 347 megawatts (MW) Ruacana hydropower plant. The country is also considering an additional hydropower plant, the Baynes Hydropower Project on the Kunene…

10 reasons why hydropower dams are a false climate solution

Originally published in Alternet by Josh Klemm and Eugene Simonov  Not only does hydroelectric power fail to prevent catastrophic climate change, but it also renders countries more vulnerable to climate change while emitting significant amounts of methane, one of the worst greenhouse gases. A river is a spectacular living corridor that feeds forests, fisheries, coastal ecosystems, and…

Nova publicação da International Rivers: Para proteger a bacia do Tapajós, é necessário apostar em tecnologias biossustentáveis desenvolvidas dentro da região

Publicação da International Rivers traz estudos inéditos sobre riqueza socioambiental e de biodiversidade da bacia do Tapajós, como também potenciais ameaças de exploração do território. Press Release in English follows below Contatos  Cecília Garcia, jornalista da equipe da América Latina da International Rivers, cgarcia@internationalrivers.org, Isadora Armani, jornalista da equipe da América Latina da International Rivers, …