How many dams has China built on the Mekong?
Table of Contents
How many dams has China built on the Mekong?
11 giant dams
China has constructed 11 giant dams along the mountainous territory of the Upper Mekong to sustain its ever-increasing energy needs. The management of water flows has long been a concern for many living along the river.
What is the main problem with the building of dams on the Mekong River?
Dams disrupt the migration of fish, preventing them from reaching their spawning grounds upstream and hampering their natural life cycles. This, in turn, could significantly affect fish production in the Mekong, home to the world’s largest inland fishery.
How many dams have been built on the Mekong River?
11
China has constructed 11 hydropower dams, of which two are large storage dams, along the mainstream in the Upper Mekong Basin. Another 11 dams, each with production capacity of over 100 MW, are being planned or constructed….Hydropower.
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Scoping report of regional benefit sharing in the Mekong |
How many dams are on the Mekong River in Laos?
11 dams
‘Love Mekong, No Dam’ Protests against Laos’ plans to build a network of 11 dams along the Mekong River with backing from neighboring Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam have been going on for decades. The four countries hope that energy produced by the network will drive economic growth in the region.
Are there any dams on the Mekong River?
There are hundreds of dams on the Mekong’s tributaries. For example, the Lower Sesan 2 dam – less than 25 kilometres from the Mekong mainstream – became Cambodia’s largest hydropower project when it came online in 2018, blocking the Sekong and Srepok rivers from feeding the Mekong and displacing thousands of people.
Who is building dams on Mekong River?
Thai construction companies play a major role funding and developing dam projects in Laos. The Xayaburi Dam was the first of its kind to be built on the lower Mekong. It was built in Laos, but construction and financing were spearheaded by Thai companies.
How many dams are in Laos?
Laos has 78 dams in operation and has signed memorandums of understanding for 246 other hydroelectric projects in its quest to become the “battery of Asia” that exports electricity to neighboring countries, primarily Thailand.
Who built dams in Laos?
China, which calls the Mekong the Lancang, has built at least eight dams on the river since the 1990s and has dozens more planned or under construction. Chinese companies have put $7 billion toward building Special Economic Zones, dams, mines, and rubber plantations in Laos, according to official sources.