Hydropower in the Mekong River Basin

The estimated hydropower potential of the lower Mekong Basin (i.e., excluding China) is 30,000 MW,[1][2] while that of the upper Mekong Basin is 28,930 MW.[3] In the lower Mekong, more than 3,235 MW has been realized via facilities built largely over the past ten years, while projects under construction will represent an additional 3,209 MW. An additional 134 projects are planned for the lower Mekong, which will maximize the river's hydropower generating capacity.[4] The single most significant impact—both now and in the future—on the use of water and its management in the Mekong Region is hydropower.[5]

Ubol Ratana Dam in Thailand
Pak Mun Dam

Given current development trends in the region, power demands are expected to rise seven percent per year between 2010 and 2030,[2] yielding a substantial and potentially lucrative energy market. Hydropower is the favoured energy option for the Mekong's riparian countries.[6][7]

The development of the Mekong River Basin is highly controversial[8][9], and is one of the most prominent components in the discussion about the river and its management. This debate occurs in both the academic literature, as well as the media, and is a focus for many activist groups.[10][11][12]

Existing hydropower infrastructure

Table 1: Commissioned dams in the Mekong River Basin (15 MW installed capacity and above)[13]

ProjectCountryRiverLocationCommissionedInstalled capacity (MW)Mean Annual Energy (GW)Height (m)Crest length (m)Total storage (million m3)Max reservoir area (km2)
DachaoshanMekong24.024947°N 100.3703°E / 24.024947; 100.3703 (Dachaoshan Dam)20031,3505,50011548189026.25
GongguoqiaoMekong25.585917°N 99.335567°E / 25.585917; 99.335567 (Gongguoqiao Dam)20129004,041105356316343
NuozhaduMekong22.642128°N 100.436336°E / 22.642128; 100.436336 (Nuozhadu Dam)20145,85023,91226260823,703320
JinghongMekong22.053206°N 100.766478°E / 22.053206; 100.766478 (Jinghong Dam)20091,7505,570108705.51,140510
ManwanMekong24.622086°N 100.448544°E / 24.622086; 100.448544 (Manwan Dam)19951,5706,710132418920415
XiaowanMekong24.7042226°N 100.091255°E / 24.7042226; 100.091255 (Xiaowan Dam)20104,20018,99029589314,560194
JinfengNan La He21.592026°N 101.225135°E / 21.592026; 101.225135 (Jinfeng Dam)19981664.34519.48
JinheJin He30.806181°N 97.332926°E / 30.806181; 97.332926 (Jinhe Dam)2004603673468.44.27
GuoduoMekong31.529089°N 97.191279°E / 31.529089; 97.191279 (Guoduo Dam)201516082393235.583
LaoyinyanGua Lan Zi He/Shun Dian He24.469128°N 99.81754°E / 24.469128; 99.81754 (Laoyinyan Dam)1997164.21,092
Nanhe 1Luo Zha He24.342442°N 100.012183°E / 24.342442; 100.012183 (Nanhe 1 Dam)20094017056.814811.36
Nanhe 2Luo Zha He24.377086°N 100.050098°E / 24.377086; 100.050098 (Nanhe 2 Dam)?25100
Luozhahe 1Luo Zha He24.505207°N 100.451749°E / 24.505207; 100.451749 (Luozhahe 1 Dam)2016301355914.33
Xi'er He 1Xi'er He25.578801°N 100.202419°E / 25.578801; 100.202419 (Xi'er He 1 Dam)1979105440
Xi'er He 2Xi'er He25.561991°N 100.131191°E / 25.561991; 100.131191 (Xi'er He 2 Dam)198750371220.2
Xi'er He 3Xi'er He25.558584°N 100.107878°E / 25.558584; 100.107878 (Xi'er He 3 Dam)19885022321
Xi'er He 4Xi'er He25.576262°N 100.065574°E / 25.576262; 100.065574 (Xi'er He 4 Dam)197114
XunCunHei Hui Jiang25.421835°N 99.993301°E / 25.421835; 99.993301 (XunCun Dam)1999783456716574
Houay HoHouayho/Xekong15.059464°N 106.764377°E / 15.059464; 106.764377 (Houayho Dam)1999152450793,53037
Houay LamphanXekong15.356153°N 106.501106°E / 15.356153; 106.501106 (Houay Lamphan Dam)2015884807774.51409
Nam BengNam Beng19.946436°N 101.237563°E / 19.946436; 101.237563 (Nam Beng Dam)20143614525.584.83,6110.7
Nam Khan 2Nam Khan19.685364°N 102.369791°E / 19.685364; 102.369791 (Nam Khan 2 Dam)201513022516040530.5
Nam Khan 3Nam Khan19.747016°N 102.222793°E / 19.747016; 102.222793 (Nam Khan 3 Dam)2016884807774.51409
Nam LeukNam Leuk/Nam Ngum18.437406°N 102.94675°E / 18.437406; 102.94675 (Nam Leuk Dam)20006021551.580018517.2
Nam Lik 1-2Nam Lik18.793782°N 102.116714°E / 18.793782; 102.116714 (Nam Lik 1-2 Dam)20101004351033281124.4
Nam Mang 1Nam Mang18.53423°N 103.196286°E / 18.53423; 103.196286 (Nam Mang 1 Dam)2016642257028016.50.148
Nam Mang 3Nam Gnogn18.349383°N 102.765244°E / 18.349383; 102.765244 (Nam Mang 3 Dam)200440150281514910
Nam Ngiep 2Nam Ngiep19.299877°N 103.352263°E / 19.299877; 103.352263 (Nam Ngiep 2 Dam)2015180732
Nam Ngiep 3ANam Ngiep19.243546°N 103.283913°E / 19.243546; 103.283913 (Nam Ngiep 3A Dam)2014441521.8
Nam Ngum 1Nam Ngum18.531068°N 102.547577°E / 18.531068; 102.547577 (Nam Ngum 1 Dam)1971148.71,006754684,700370
Nam Ngum 2Nam Ngum18.755374°N 102.776476°E / 18.755374; 102.776476 (Nam Ngum 2 Dam)20116152,3001824213,590122.2
Nam Ngum 5Nam Ngum19.356095°N 102.621196°E / 19.356095; 102.621196 (Nam Ngum 5 Dam)20121205079923531415
Nam Theun 2Nam Theun/Xe Bangfai17.997353°N 104.952306°E / 17.997353; 104.952306 (Nam Theun 2 Dam)20101,0755,936483253,500450
Nam Ou 2Nam Ou20.411698°N 102.472817°E / 20.411698; 102.472817 (Nam Ou 2 Dam)201612054649352121.715.7
Nam Ou 5Nam Ou21.411349°N 102.344263°E / 21.411349; 102.344263 (Nam Ou 5 Dam)20162401,0497433517.22
Nam Ou 6Nam Ou21.411349°N 102.344263°E / 21.411349; 102.344263 (Nam Ou 6 Dam)20161807398840917.01
Theun-HinbounNam Theun18.261005°N 104.562525°E / 18.261005; 104.562525 (Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Plant)19982201,645488101,30049
Theun-Hinboun Expansion ProjectNam Gnouang18.297248°N 104.636171°E / 18.297248; 104.636171 (Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project)20132221,395654802,45049
Xe Kaman 3Xe Kaman15.425194°N 107.362611°E / 15.425194; 107.362611 (Xe Kaman 3 Dam)20142501,000102543141.55.2
Xeset 1Xeset15.49200°N 106.27867°E / 15.49200; 106.27867 (Xeset 1 Dam)19944515418124
Xeset 2Xeset15.403775°N 106.280332°E / 15.403775; 106.280332 (Xeset 1 Dam)20097630926144
A LuoiA Sap16.197619°N 107.161897°E / 16.197619; 107.161897 (A Luoi Dam)201217068649.5208
Buon KuopSre Pok12.52504°N 107.925762°E / 12.52504; 107.925762 (Buon Kop Dam)20092801,45547
Buon Tua SraSe San/Krong Po Ko12.282116°N 108.041299°E / 12.282116; 108.041299 (Buon Tua Srah Dam)20098635941
Dray Hlinh 2Sre Pok12.6757°N 107.903978°E / 12.6757; 107.903978 (Dray Hinh 2 Dam)20071685
Plei KrongSe San/Krong Po Ko14.408227°N 107.862991°E / 14.408227; 107.862991 (Plei Krong Dam)2008100479657451,04953
Sesan 3Sesan14.215816°N 107.722061°E / 14.215816; 107.722061 (Sesan 3 Dam)20062601,224796.4
Sesan 3ASesan14°12′55.13″N 107°43′20.15″E200796
Sesan 4Sesan14°6′23.02″N 107°39′28.08″E20093606054
Sre Pok 3Sre Pok12°45′2.78″N 107°52′34.32″E200922052.5
Yali FallsSesan14°13′38.93″N 107°49′46.55″E2001720651,4601,03764.5
ChulabhornNam Phrom16.536267°N 101.650036°E / 16.536267; 101.650036 (Chulabhorn Dam)197240937070016531
Pak MunMun15.2818942°N 105.468058°E / 15.2818942; 105.468058 (Pak Mun Dam)199413628017300
SirindhornLam Dom Noi15.206339°N 105.429156°E / 15.206339; 105.429156 (Siridhorn Dam)19713686429401,967288
Ubol RatanaNam Pong16.775394°N 102.618325°E / 16.775394; 102.618325 (Ubol Ratana Dam)196625.25735.18852,559410
Lam Ta KhongLam Ta Khong14.865175°N 101.560303°E / 14.865175; 101.560303 (Lam Ta Khong Dam)197450040040.325131037

Hydropower infrastructure under construction

Table 2: Hydropower dams under construction in the Mekong River Basin (15 MW installed capacity and above)[13]

ProjectCountryRiverLocationExpected Commissioning YearInstalled capacity (MW)Mean Annual Energy (GW)Height (m)Crest length (m)Total storage (million m3)Max reservoir area (km2)
DahuaqiaoMekong26.308096°N 99.139288°E / 26.308096; 99.139288 (Dahuaqiao Dam)20189204,070106231.5293
HuangdengMekong26.548199°N 99.112669°E / 26.548199; 99.112669 (Huangdeng Dam)20181,9008,5782034571,613
LidiMekong27.848016°N 99.030555°E / 27.848016; 99.030555 (Lidi Dam)20194201,75375346.4753.7
Luozhahe 2Luo Zha He24.486867°N 100.402128°E / 24.486867; 100.402128 (Luozhahe 2 Dam)201750225713,391
MiaoweiMekong25.854121°N 99.163155°E / 25.854121; 99.163155 (Miaowei Dam)2017[14]1,4005,999140660
WunonglongMekong27.932554°N 98.9333°E / 27.932554; 98.9333 (Wunonglong Dam)20199904,116138247284
GanlanbaMekong21.843867°N 100.937917°E / 21.843867; 100.937917 (Ganlanba Dam)2018[15]1551,17760.545857758
Don SahongMekong13.956223°N 105.964247°E / 13.956223; 105.964247 (Don Sahong Dam)2019240[16]2,000256,800252.2
Houay PorHouay Pore15.545605°N 106.256763°E / 15.545605; 106.256763 (Houay Por Dam)unknown156060.76
Nam Bi 1Nam Bi15.23565°N 107.515959°E / 15.23565; 107.515959 (Nam Bi 1 Dam)202150210258430.0273
Nam Bi 2Nam Bi15.212256°N 107.540761°E / 15.212256; 107.540761 (Nam Bi 2 Dam)202168288.547.5182.5100.64
Nam Chian 1Nam Ngiep19.145395°N 103.557259°E / 19.145395; 103.557259 (Nam Chian 1 Dam)201710444869367
Nam Kong 2Nam Kong14.494672°N 106.856669°E / 14.494672; 106.856669 (Nam Kong Dam 2)2021662645021071.44.2
Nam Kong 3Nam Kong14.566338°N 106.912551°E / 14.566338; 106.912551 (Nam Kong 3 Dam)20174517050.5
Nam Ngiep 1Nam Ngiep18.6458578°N 103.5516582°E / 18.6458578; 103.5516582 (Nam Ngiep 1 Dam)20192721,5461675301,19267
Nam Ngiep 2CNam Ngiep19.21347°N 103.357806°E / 19.21347; 103.357806 (Nam Ngiep 2C Dam)202045230
Nam Ngiep (Downstream)Nam Ngiep18.64747°N 103.516607°E / 18.64747; 103.516607 (Nam Ngiep (Downstream) Dam)20191810520904.61.27
Nam Ngum 1 ExtensionNam Ngum18.527772°N 102.530765°E / 18.527772; 102.530765 (Nam Ngum Extension Dam)2017120
Nam Ou 1Nam Ou20.0883°N 102.265379°E / 20.0883; 102.265379 (Nam Ou 1 Dam)20201607106544289.19.56
Nam Ou 3Nam Ou20.695251°N 102.665404°E / 20.695251; 102.665404 (Nam Ou 2 Dam)202015068572340168.613.26
Nam Ou 4Nam Ou21.120153°N 102.494173°E / 21.120153; 102.494173 (Nam Ou 4 Dam)2020116524473001249.37
Nam Ou 7Nam Ou22.07779°N 102.264436°E / 22.07779; 102.264436 (Nam Ou 7 Dam)20201908111478251,49438.16
Nam Pha GnaiNam Pha Gnai19.013318°N 102.264436°E / 19.013318; 102.264436 (Nam Pha Gnai Dam)201619.21301.5
Nam San 3ANam San19.129054°N 103.663052°E / 19.129054; 103.663052 (Nam San 3A Dam)unknown69278.4753501238.5
Nam Tha 1Nam Tha20.249467°N 100.892433°E / 20.249467; 100.892433 (Nam Tha 1 Dam)2018168759.493.7349.21,755
XayaburiMekong19.254006°N 101.813699°E / 19.254006; 101.813699 (Xayaburi Dam)20191,2856,035488101,30049
Xekaman-SanxayXe Kaman14.890823°N 107.119451°E / 14.890823; 107.119451 (Xekaman-Sanxay Dam)20173212328180
Xepian-XenamnoyXepian/Xenamnoy14.946382°N 106.627369°E / 14.946382; 106.627369 (Xepian-Xenamnoy Dam)20184101,88075.51,7781,09250
Xeset 3Xe Don15.342113°N 106.31115°E / 15.342113; 106.31115 (Xeset 3 Dam)20202074
Battambang 1Sangker12.804805°N 102.912094°E / 12.804805; 102.912094 (Battambang 1 Dam)20172412349.54,200
Lower Sesan 2Sesan13.551408°N 106.263841°E / 13.551408; 106.263841 (Lower Sesan 2 Dam)20184002,312457,7291,790335

Planned hydropower infrastructure

The CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems, which monitors dams development in the Mekong Region, distinguishes between "planned" dams—those for which bureaucratic processes to license, or enable the dam to be constructed (for example, feasibility studies, concession agreements, environmental impact assessments, power purchase agreements and other government authorisations); and "proposed" dams that have been suggested, but for which these processes have not commenced.

Table 3: Planned and Proposed Hydropower dams in the Mekong River Basin (15 MW installed capacity and above)[13]

CountryNo. Planned damsNo. Proposed dams
Cambodia120
China112
Laos4320
Myanmar70
Thailand70
Vietnam11
Totals7423

Proposed mainstream dams

Table 4: Dams on the Mekong Mainstream[13]

ProjectCountryLocationExpected Commissioning YearInstalled capacity (MW)Mean Annual Energy (GW)Height (m)Crest length (m)Total storage (million m3)Max reservoir area (km2)
Ban Kum15.417881°N 105.587364°E / 15.417881; 105.587364 (Ban Kum Dam)20301,8728,43453780132.5
Dongzhong31.872777°N 96.99°E / 31.872777; 96.99 (Dongzhong Dam)Proposed. COD Unknown.10841.2
Gushui28.608683°N 98.746133°E / 28.608683; 98.746133 (Gushui Dam)COD Unknown.2,6008,3373105403,912
Guxue29.18295°N 98.6067°E / 29.18295; 98.6067 (Guxue Dam)Planned. COD Unknown.1,7007,8162295997,752
Kagong30.622567°N 97.444417°E / 30.622567; 97.444417 (Kagong Dam)Planned. COD Unknown.2401,2649723781.4
Latsua15.33146°N 105.582803°E / 15.33146; 105.582803 (Latsua Dam)20238003,504221,30013
Lin Chang31.1804°N 97.1852°E / 31.1804; 97.1852 (Lin Chang Dam)Planned. COD Unknown.72362389
Luangprabang20.06663°N 102.192339°E / 20.06663; 102.192339 (Luangprabang)20301,2006,50057.53181,589.572.4
Pak Beng19.843927°N 101.016502°E / 19.843927; 101.016502 (Pak Beng Dam)20229124,8468594387
Pak Lay18.327581°N 101.530575°E / 18.327581; 101.530575 (Pak Lay Dam)20301,3204,25235630108
Ru Mei29.649933°N 98.3477°E / 29.649933; 98.3477 (Ru Mei Dam)Planned. COD Unknown.2,10010,5823157243,602
Sambor12.786849°N 105.938582°E / 12.786849; 105.938582 (Sambor Dam)after 20202,60011,7495618,0023,794620
Sanakham17.829183°N 101.556969°E / 17.829183; 101.556969 (Sanakham Dam)20247005,015251,14481
Santhong-Pakchom18.201038°N 102.050588°E / 18.201038; 102.050588 (Santhong-Pakchom Dam)Planned. COD Unknown.1,0795,052551,20080.3
Stung Treng13.302404°N 105.245516°E / 13.302404; 105.245516 (Stung Treng Dam)Planned. COD unknown.9804,8702210,88470 (active)211
Yue Long30.868008°N 97.347124°E / 30.868008; 97.347124 (Yue Long Dam)Planned. COD Unknown.12964460.7377

COD = Commercial Operating Date.

Environmental impacts

A study by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) |url=http://www.mrcmekong.org/}}</ref>presented at the Third MRC International Conference in March 2018, concluded that hydropower development on the Mekong River will aggravate food insecurity and poverty in the region. The report forecasts that Thailand is expected to suffer the most economically and ecologically. According to the report, full scale dam development will decrease GDP growth for lower Mekong basin countries by US$29 billion. Thailand would have the greatest economic loss, as much as US$11 billion. Laos and Cambodia would each face losses of US$9 billion in GDP growth. Native fish stocks would be particularly hard hit: more than 900,000 tonnes of fish biomass, worth US$4.3 billion, would disappear by 2040 from the Mekong as a result of dams. Thailand would have the highest rate of fish loss, 55 percent, followed by Laos, 50 percent; Cambodia, 35 percent; and Vietnam, 30 percent. The creation of reservoirs would result in many parts of the Mekong becoming a lake ecosystem, unsuitable for many native aquatic species of the river environment and will eventually drive them to extinction.[17] A Lao government executive dismissed the research findings as "just an estimation". He insisted that hydropower dams were crucial to solving poverty and that they would provide large economic benefits to the entire region.[18][19]

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See also

References
  1. "Mekong Mainstream Dams". International Rivers. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  2. Mekong River Commission (2010). "State of the Basin Report, 2010" (PDF). MRC, Vientiane, Laos.
  3. J. Dore; Y. Xiaogang; K. Yuk-shing (2007). "China's energy reforms and hydropower expansion in Yunnan". In L. Lebel; J. Dore; R. Daniel; Y.S. Koma (eds.). Democratizing Water Governance in the Mekong Region. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books. pp. 55–92. ISBN 9749511255.
  4. Mekong River Commission (2005). "Overview of the Hydrology of the Mekong Basin" (PDF). MRC, Vientiane, Laos.
  5. CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food. "CPWF Mekong". Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  6. "Cambodian Villagers Petition Chinese Embassy to Scrap Dam Projects". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  7. Nijhuis, Michelle. "Harnessing the Mekong or Killing It?". National Geographic. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  8. "Thousands Call for Regional Governments to Save the Mekong". International Rivers. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  9. "Neighbors on Alert as China Releases Deluge of Water from Mekong Dam". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  10. "'I Will Lose My Identity': Cambodian Villagers Face Displacement By Mekong Dam". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  11. "A Dangerous Trajectory for the Mekong River". International Rivers. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  12. Yeophantong, Pichamon. "China's Lancang Dam Cascade and Transnational Activism in the Mekong Region: Who's Got the Power?". Asian Survey. 54 (4): 700–24. doi:10.1525/as.2014.54.4.700.
  13. "WLE, 2016. Dataset on the Dams of the Irrawaddy, Mekong, Red and Salween River Basins. Vientiane, Lao PDR: CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems - Greater Mekong". CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (Greater Mekong). Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  14. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-11-01/a-waterfight-like-no-other-may-be-brewing-over-asia-s-rivers
  15. https://www.internationalrivers.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/mekong_mainstream_damsupdate_2017_english.pdf
  16. Intralawan, Apisom; Wood, David; Frankel, Richard (March 2017). "Economic Evaluation of Hydropower Projects in the Lower Mekong Basin" (PDF). Mekong River Commission (MRC). p. 10. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  17. Rujivanarom, Pratch (19 July 2019). "Aquatic life faces extinction as upstream dams leave Mekong River dry". The Nation. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  18. Rujivanarom, Pratch (4 April 2018). "Mekong River dams 'will harm food security'". The Nation. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  19. Boyle, David; Narin, Sun (5 April 2018). "Mekong Leaders Mostly Mum on Risks Tied to Intense Damming". VOA. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
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