Large scale resource developments, in particular hydropower dams, have
been a part of the development landscape of the Nam Theun since
the 1970s. The historical legacy
of regional resource planning from this period has set the contemporary
scene of resource developments on the Nam Theun that relies solely on
hydropower to service
the 'national interest' at the exclusion of other possible resource developments.
At issue is whether the sacrifices that local communities have been asked
to make for the national interest will be effectively compensated for.
Photo: Philip Hirsch
The NamTheun near the dam site of the proposed Nam Theun 2 Hydropower
Project.
In many ways, who stands to benefit and who bears the costs of such developments
has become an increasingly complicated question to answer in an era where
the national interest is intricately intertwined with the interests of
regional countries such as Thailand
where energy demand for industrial development provides a market for Lao
hydropower
Two case studies of
hydropower developments on the Nam Theun are provided here, that of Nam Theun 2 and Theun
Hinboun in lesser detail. Use the map below to explore these case studies. The study of
Theun Hinboun will be developed in more detail in the near future.
- Nam Theun's historical legacy
- Hydropower development in the Lao PDR
- The role of Thailand
- The concept of BOOT
Photo: Andrew Wyatt
The village of Ban Sop On is one of 16 villages that will be inundated by
the reservoir of the proposed Nam Theun 2 hydropower project.
exports, and the interests of foreign private investors and developers who finance, build, and operate hydropower plants under the concept of Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT).
On the Nam Theun, one hydropower dam, the Theun Hinboun, has already been
built and began operation in April 1998. Four other dams, Nam Theun 1, 2, 3 and 4 remain
in the planning stages. Of these the Nam Theun 2 is at the most advanced stage of
planning, awaiting a negotiated power purchase price with the Electricity Generating
Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and the provision of a sovereign risk guarantee by the World
Bank.