Yearbook 2019
Laos. At the end of October, power began to be delivered
from the Xayaburi power plant project, one of five planned
major power plants in the Mekong River in Laos. The
Thai-owned power plant, which cost $ 4.4 billion, began to
be built in 2012. As a result of drought and other dam
construction, the flow of the Mekong River decreased sharply
downstream.
According to
CountryAAH, Laos plans to expand hydropower and become Southeast
Asia's "battery" and export electric power to neighboring
China, Thailand and Vietnam. Environmental organizations
warn of the investments, which risk knocking out fisheries
and ecosystems, while large population groups are forced to
relocate.
Agriculture and development expert Sombath Somphone's
fate remained unknown. He disappeared in December 2012. He
had questioned the dust projects and the acquisition of poor
farmers' land.
Floods caused by the monsoon rains and a severe tropical
storm in September affected over half a million people in
southern Laos. At least 20 fatalities were reported. High
water levels made it difficult to get emergency relief.
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