Don Sahong Dam
Encyclopedia
The Don Sahong is a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River in Siphandone area of Champasak Province, southern Laos
. It is located less than two kilometers upstream of the Laos–Cambodia
border.
and Cambodia.
, the dam would have a seriously impact to fish migration. However extensive project studies over the last few years have demonstrated that the current major impact to the Mekong fishery in this region is over-fishing pressure, with catches declining markedly over the last 10 years or so. The studies show the project to have a beneficial effect on the fishery as it will open up and improve two substantial water channels either side of the Hou Sahong that are currently blocked either with natural barriers or fish traps, thus allowing improved fish passage over the current situation.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature
, the Don Sahong Dam would threaten the Veun Nyang/Anlong Cheuteal area of Irrawaddy dolphin
, Laos' only permanent dolphin population. However the project development studies have fully accounted for protection of the dolphin population and will include construction measures to fully isolate the works from the river. With the dolphin pool over 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the project site, potential impacts on the dolphin population are mitigated.
The project would also reduce the flows to the Khone Phapheng Falls. An agreed minimum flow would be given first priority. The Falls are important as a tourist activity and the agreed minimum will include the consideration of providing good viewing conditions, noting that the Guidebook for Tourism published by Dept of Geology-Mines Lao PDR identifies that the Falls look most impressive under lower dry season flows.
As the Siphandone area is considered as a Ramsar site, construction of the dam would threaten its eligibility for the Ramsar status.
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. It is located less than two kilometers upstream of the Laos–Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
border.
History
In March 2006, the Government of Laos signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian engineering and construction company Mega First Corporation Berhad for a feasibility study of the project. In February 2008, a project development agreement was signed. In June 2008, Mega First Corporation Berhad formed a joint venture with IJM Corporation for the project development. Mega First Corporation Berhad owns 70% of shares in the joint venture while IJM Corporation has 30%.Description
The Don Sahong Dam would be located at the downstream end of the Hou Sahong channel between Don Sahong and Don Sadam islands. The dam's height would be between 30 and 32 m (98.4 and 105 ). It would have a capacity of 240–360 MW. Most of the produced electricity would be exported to ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Cambodia.
Impact
According to International RiversInternational Rivers
International Rivers is a non-profit, non-governmental, environmental and human rights organization based in Berkeley, California, United States...
, the dam would have a seriously impact to fish migration. However extensive project studies over the last few years have demonstrated that the current major impact to the Mekong fishery in this region is over-fishing pressure, with catches declining markedly over the last 10 years or so. The studies show the project to have a beneficial effect on the fishery as it will open up and improve two substantial water channels either side of the Hou Sahong that are currently blocked either with natural barriers or fish traps, thus allowing improved fish passage over the current situation.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
, the Don Sahong Dam would threaten the Veun Nyang/Anlong Cheuteal area of Irrawaddy dolphin
Irrawaddy dolphin
The Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in discontinuous subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia.-Etymology and taxonomic history:...
, Laos' only permanent dolphin population. However the project development studies have fully accounted for protection of the dolphin population and will include construction measures to fully isolate the works from the river. With the dolphin pool over 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the project site, potential impacts on the dolphin population are mitigated.
The project would also reduce the flows to the Khone Phapheng Falls. An agreed minimum flow would be given first priority. The Falls are important as a tourist activity and the agreed minimum will include the consideration of providing good viewing conditions, noting that the Guidebook for Tourism published by Dept of Geology-Mines Lao PDR identifies that the Falls look most impressive under lower dry season flows.
As the Siphandone area is considered as a Ramsar site, construction of the dam would threaten its eligibility for the Ramsar status.