World Bank's happy with Nam Theun II progress
The World Bank yesterday expressed overall satisfaction with the controversial Nam Theun II hydro project in Laos despite some delays at the beginning of construction due to serious weather conditions in the middle of last year.
"The construction of the project is now on track to meet some of the key expectation needs, including the date for filling the reservoir within 2008 and the date of the beginning of commercial operation in December 2009," said Ian C Porter, World Bank Country Director for Southeast Asia.
[Hear part of Ian C Porter's press conference]
The bank yesterday released the latest semi-annual update on the implementation status of the project, prepared jointly with the Asian Development Bank.
The update reports overall "satisfactory progress" since the last update was issued in March this year, Porter told a press briefing in Bangkok, which was also conducted via teleconference to Vientiane.
The World Bank sponsored construction of the US$1.4-billion (Bt51.4-billion) hydropower project on the Nakai Plateau in the central region of Laos, one of the world's least developed country's.
Most of the electricity produced by the 1,070-megawatt hydropower dam will be exported to Thailand to generate foreign currency for a poverty-reduction scheme in the landlocked country.
The project has a long history of strong opposition from conservationists as the dam will widely affect people and the environment on the plateau and another river basin nearby.
Some 6,200 people in 1,200 households on the plateau have been affected.
A total of 597 households were removed to resettlement areas a few weeks ago, said Patchamuthu Illangovan, the bank's country manager for Laos.
The project company intends to finish the remaining 600 houses by June next year, he said.
All the affected people agreed to move on a voluntary basis and most of them preferred to live near their previous home, he added.
The dam has also had a negative impact on wildlife, notably some 140-150 wild elephants living in the area. As the dam's reservoir, which will divide the plateau, could affect their habitat, the company plans to build a corridor to facilitate their crossing.
Whether this will work for the elephants and other wildlife is being debated.
A consultant team of top field biologists with experience in Laos has been selected to study the matter and will hold a symposium to discuss the plan soon.
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Listen to Ian Porter's press briefing on www.nationmultimedia.com
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