Tag
Laos dams
Sanakham Dam Sparks Fear and Anguish Along the Thai-Lao Border
By Tom Fawthrop
A long-dreaded dam project on Laos’ side of the border is moving forward, despite opposition from locals.
Laos Is Not in a Chinese ‘Debt Trap’ – But It Is in Trouble
By Anjali Bhatt
Laos is disturbingly reliant on investment from China – and no one knows how much, and under what terms.
Laos Takes Another Step Forward on Controversial Mekong Dam
By Sebastian Strangio
The China-backed Pak Lay hydropower project is just one of nine dams that the Lao government has planned for the Mekong River.
The Last Days of Beautiful Luang Prabang
By Tom Fawthrop
UNESCO experts insist that a huge dam would destroy the “authenticity and integrity” of the World Heritage Site in Laos.
What’s Driving Laos’ Debt Crisis?
By Kearrin Sims and Emma Luce Scali
While China is critically important, the current debt crisis in Laos is about much more than Beijing.
Laos Pushes Forward With Seventh Mekong River Dam Project
By Sebastian Strangio
The Phou Ngoy dam is one of nine hydropower projects that the Lao government is planning on the mainstream of the Mekong River.
What Chinese Dams in Laos Tell Us About the Belt and Road Initiative
By Phillip Guerreiro
Analyzing Chinese dams in Laos provides insight into the local origins and drivers of the BRI, particularly along China’s borderland regions.
The Threat of a Dam Disaster in Luang Prabang
By Tom Fawthrop
The dam near Luang Prabang - both a World Heritage site and an seismically active zone - is “an irresponsible gamble,” experts argue.
Laos Grants 25-Year Power Grid Concession to Chinese-Majority Firm
By Sebastian Strangio
The deal will deepen China's involvement in the Lao government's goal of transforming itself into the "battery of Southeast Asia."
UNESCO Calls for Heritage Assessment for Lao Hydropower Dam
By Sebastian Strangio
The U.N.'s cultural agency fears that the project might endanger the World Heritage-listed town of Luang Prabang.
In Laos, Reform Hopes Peter Out Into Business as Usual
By David Hutt
The Lao communist party's newly selected General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith once promised change. Now he sits atop a closed and sclerotic system.
In the Face of Criticism, Laos Pushes Ahead With Four Mekong Dams
By Luke Hunt
But costs and competition could leave the putative "battery of Southeast Asia" running on empty.
Hydropower vs Heritage: Will Laos Lose Luang Prabang?
By Tom Fawthrop
Another Mekong dam project threatens to cost the former royal capital its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Thai Official Warns Laos on Power Purchases from Controversial Dam
By Sebastian Strangio
The Thai concerns about the Sanakham dam come amid growing recognition of the dire state of the Mekong.
Did Vietnam Just Doom the Mekong?
By Tom Fawthrop
A policy reversal on Mekong dams has put Hanoi’s credibility – and the river’s fate – on the line.
People’s Power: Anti-Dam Movements in Southeast Asia
By Wora Suk
Communities in Thailand and beyond are learning to organize to demand that dam construction consider their rights.
Scorched Earth Development in Northern Laos
By Scott Ezell
A look at dam, Belt and Road, and SEZ projects in “the battery of Southeast Asia.”
Laos’ Dam Disaster May Not Be Its Last
By Tom Fawthrop
The cost-cutting and lack of oversight that led to the dam's collapse plague other hydropower projects across the country.
China and Laos' Dam Disaster
By Shannon Tiezzi
There are strong political motives behind China's fast response.
Laos Dam Collapse Brings Flood of Questions
By Luke Hunt
Incident raises serious questions about the government’s approach.
Can ASEAN Save the Mekong River?
By Luke Hunt
As discussions continue, the future of one of the world’s greatest rivers is as bleak as ever.
Killing the Mekong, Dam by Dam
By Tom Fawthrop
Regional governments have been underestimating the environmental and economic costs of Mekong dams.
Laos in the ASEAN Spotlight: Opportunities and Challenges
By Prashanth Parameswaran
As regional meetings kick off, we need to keep the bigger picture of Vientiane’s chairmanship in mind.
The Power of Power: Laotian Village Generates Its Own Electricity
By Luc Forsyth and Gareth Bright
In a remote mountain village of northern Laos, a community has developed their own electrical grid, yet faces an uncertain future.
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