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Nam Ngum 2 dam displaced over 6,000 ethnic minorities in Vientiane, Lao PDR


Description:

On its path to become the “battery of Asia”, Laos has planned a series of major dams along the Nam Ngum River, a tributary river of the Mekong. The Nam Ngun 2 dam, located in Vientiane province, is among those already in operation, just 35km north-east of the downstream Nam Ngum 1 dam [1].

The project was first planned during the 1990s, when feasibility studies and Environmental Impacts Assessments (EIA) where conducted by Finnish engineering company Pöyry, which would later on become supervising engineer [2], in spite of an apparent conflict of interests. Put on ice during the Asian financial crisis, the project received again momentum in March 2006, when agreements to move forward were signed with a consortium of developers (see project details) [1]. EIAs were completed, but not disclosed, violating National Hydropower Policy [3]. Construction started at the end of 2006, and as of end of December 2010, the dam, awarded with the International Milestone Rockfill Dam Project Award [2], was ready to produce electricity for export to Thailand [4]. However, when the dam’s reservoir of 12,200ha was first filled with water, water levels of downstream Nam Ngum 1 dam dropped so much, requiring to important electricity from Thailand to cover the shortfall [3].

During construction, no less than 6,100 people from 17 villages, largely ethnic minorities Phuan, Tai Dam, Tai Deng, Khamu and Hmong, needed to be displaced [3;5]. People were unable to participate in the planning of the so-called “focal sites” [5]; common resettlement areas for all different ethnic groups, which were reported to lack sufficient access to land to support livelihoods [1]. Others reported evidence for human rights abuses in the procedure of how evictions occurred [5]. Downstream impacts include reduction of fish stock in the Nam Ngum 1 dam reservoir, on which more than 9,000 people depend, while the Nam Ngum 2 reservoir has little potential for reservoir fisheries [1]. In addition to the well-known environmental impacts of lams, such as blocking of migratory fish species and other irreversible changes in aquatic and riparian ecosystems, the transmission line was constructed within the Protected Area Phou Khao Khuay NPA, leading to further habitat fragmentation within the park [3].

Finnish company Pöyry presents the dam as a success story, in which, during the peak construction period no less than 6,000 persons were employed for the dam, hence, providing substantial local employment [2]. This short term employment, however, needs to be contrasted with an irreversible economic, social, cultural and ecological loss, jeopardizing more than 6,000 indigenous people, which are carrying the costs for the benefits of a few companies, the Lao government and energy-demanding Thailand [4].

Basic Data

Name of conflict:Nam Ngum 2 dam displaced over 6,000 ethnic minorities in Vientiane, Lao PDR
Country:Lao PDR
State or province:Vientiane
Location of conflict:Xaisomboun district
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)

Source of Conflict

Type of conflict. 1st level:Water Management
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Land acquisition conflicts
Dams and water distribution conflicts
Specific commodities:Land
Electricity
Water

Project Details and Actors

Project details

Nam Ngum 2 dam is a concrete face rockfill dam with a high of 182 meters [2] and a width of 485m [6]. The reservoir expands over 12,200ha. The construction was completed at the end of 2010 and commercial operation started in March 2013 [6].

The installed capacity amounts to 614 Megawatt (MW) and the dam has an annual production of 2220GWh [2].

The investment size was reported to amount to $832 million [2].

The project is a BOT project (build-operate-transfer), in which the ownership will be transferred to Lao PDR after several decades of operation [1].

The produced energy is sold by agreement to the Energy Generating Authority Thailand (EGAT). Therefore, a 98km transmission line(230/500kV) needed to be constructed [2], partly located in protected areas [1].

The dam is operated by Nam Ngun 2 Power Company Limited.

According to International Rivers [3], as of 2010, the involved developers held the following shares: CH. Karnchang (Thai) 28.5%; EdL (Laos) 25%; Ratchaburi Generating Co. (Thai) 25%; Bangkok Expressway PCL (Thai) 12.5%; Shlapak Group (USA) 4%; PT Construction & Irrigation Co., (Laos) 4%; TEAM Consulting Engineering (Thai) 1%.

Finnish company Pöyry conducted feasibility studies and impact assessment, and later became supervising engineer [2].

Other consultants were TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management Co., Ltd. and ATT Consultants Co., Ltd [7]

Technology (turbines) was supplied by Japanese Mitsui and Toshiba [3].

Project area:12,200
Level of Investment for the conflictive project832,000,000
Type of populationRural
Affected Population:6,100 displaced; 9,000 directly affected by reduced fish stock
Start of the conflict:01/03/2006
End of the conflict:01/03/2013
Company names or state enterprises:Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) from Thailand
CH Karnchang Public Company Limited (CH Karnchang PCL) from Thailand
Pöyry PLC (Pöyry PLC) from Finland
TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management Co., Ltd. (TEAM) from Thailand
Bangkok Expressway Public Company Limited from Thailand
Nam Ngum 2 Power Company Limited (NN2 PCL) from Lao PDR - hydroelectricity, dams
Electricite du Laos (EdL) from Lao PDR - electricity, energy
ATT Consultants Company Limited (ATT) from Thailand - consultancy, engineering, architecture
Shlapak Group Co Ltd. from United States of America - hydroelectric dams
PT Construction and Irrigation Company Limited from Lao PDR - infrastructure development, energy, mining
Toshiba from Japan
Mitsui & Co Ltd from Japan
International and Finance InstitutionsKasikorn Bank from Thailand
Bangkok Bank from Thailand
Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited (SCB) from Thailand
Krungthai Bank PCL from Thailand
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:International Rivers (and likely others)

Conflict & Mobilization

IntensityUnknown
Reaction stageIn REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation)
Groups mobilizing:International ejos
there were likely also other groups mobilizing, though no information could be found so far.
Forms of mobilization:Involvement of national and international NGOs
Public campaigns

Impacts

Environmental ImpactsVisible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity
Potential: Groundwater pollution or depletion
Health ImpactsVisible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide
Socio-economical ImpactsVisible: Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place
Potential: Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights

Outcome

Project StatusIn operation
Conflict outcome / response:Migration/displacement
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:No
Briefly explain:The project went on.

Sources & Materials

Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc)

Water and Water Resources Law, LAO PDR
http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/lao7478.pdf

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

[1] International Rivers, 2008. Power Surge: The Impacts of Rapid Dam Development in Laos. Report (accessed 10/03/2015)
http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/attached-files/intl_rivers_power_surge.pdf

[3] International Rivers, 2010. Existing and planned Hydropower Projects. (accessed 10/03/2015).
http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/attached-files/laohydro2010_sept_final.pdf

[4] Middleton, C. (2012). Transborder Environmental Justice in Regional Energy Trade in Mainland South-East

Asia. ASEAS - Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies, 5(2), 292-315.
http://www.seas.at/aseas/5_2/ASEAS_5_2_A7.pdf

[5] Sengkham S., 2007. Resettlement Impacts of Nam Ngum 2 Hydro-power Project on Community Culture. Report. (accessed 10/03/2015)
http://rightslinklao.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/05/Resettlement-Impacts-of-Nam-Ngum-2-Hydro-power-Project-on-Community-Culture.pdf

[2] Pöyry communication: Nam Ngum 2: Award-Winning Hydroelectric Power Plant in the remote forests of South East Asia. (accessed 10/03/2015)
http://www.poyry.com/sites/default/files/namngum2_a4_success_story_en.pdf

[6] Website of PT Sole Company (accessed 10/03/2015)
http://www.ptsole.com/nam-ngum-2

[9] TEAM consulting company on the project (accessed 10/03/2015)
http://www.teamgroup.co.th/index.php/en/credentials/projects/water-resources-a-hydropower/79-nam-ngum-2-hydroelectric-power-project-lao-pdr.html

Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network

Video on reduced fish stocks in the downstream Nam Ngun dam reservoir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nStsV5klDU

Meta information

Contributor:A. Scheidel (ICTA-UAB) / arnim.scheidel "at" gmail.com
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:1860

Images

 

Map of the Nam Ngun dams

Source: See International Rivers, [1]

Nam Ngun 2 dam

Source: http://www.ptsole.com/nam-ngum-2

Construction of the Nam Ngun 2 dam

Source: http://www.ceat.or.th/2010/images/stories/member-proj/team/30.jpg