Latest news with #MekongRiver
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Vietnam's Mekong challenge: balancing ties with China amid build up of dams, canal projects
China-backed projects on the Mekong River may complicate ties with Vietnam, analysts warn, as Hanoi navigates the delicate balance of cooperation with Beijing while maintaining a strategic presence in neighbouring Cambodia and Laos. At a recent online forum on May 27, the discussion centred on Vietnam's complex security challenges and how Hanoi can maintain relations with its three neighbours while protecting its interests, especially amid China's growing economic influence in infrastructure projects, such as dams in Laos and Cambodia. China has embarked on extensive dam-building activities in the Mekong area, operating 12 mainstream dams and 95 tributary dams that pose an upstream threat to Vietnam, according to Phan Xuan Dung, research officer at ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute and a PhD candidate at Australian National University. 'These dam projects have been developed unilaterally without consultation with the lower Mekong countries,' Phan said, adding that the dams have significantly reduced water flow and sediment reaching the Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta serves as Vietnam's agricultural powerhouse, supporting some 80 million people and contributes to one-third of the country's gross domestic product, Phan said. Workers use excavators to dig the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel that runs into the Mekong River in Cambodia. Photo: AFP Meanwhile, Laos operates 77 dams with 61 more planned, including seven on the mainstream Mekong, as it furthers its ambition to become the 'battery of Southeast Asia' by exporting hydropower energy.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
POWERCHINA Strengthens Commitment to Ecological Diversity Protection in Laos
BEIJING, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Power Construction Corporation of China ("POWERCHINA" or "the Company"), through multiple ongoing ecological practices in Laos and around the globe, the Company has actively responded to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and contributed to the United Nations biodiversity goals. Laos, a mountainous country rich in biodiversity, encompasses four of the WWF's Global 200 priority ecoregions, including parts of the Annamite Range and the Mekong River basin. The country has designated 33 national protected areas, covering approximately 3.86 million hectares—about 16.68% of its total land area. Over 8,100 plant species and nearly 2,000 animal species have been identified, with more than 10% listed as protected under national or international conservation frameworks. This exceptional ecological richness has drawn increasing international attention to biodiversity conservation efforts in the region. POWERCHINA's biodiversity protection in action The Don Sahong Hydropower Project in Laos, built by POWERCHINA, reflects the Company's commitment to protecting biodiversity and the Mekong River's fish populations. Before construction, experts studied fish migration and behavior to avoid disrupting reproduction. Natural-style fish channels were built on tributaries to maintain migration routes and habitats. These measures earned praise from local authorities and stakeholders, easing concerns and helping preserve the river's ecological balance while advancing sustainable development goals. POWERCHINA's Laos Monsoon Wind Power Project, the first in Laos and Southeast Asia's largest onshore wind project, spans 68,000 hectares. Prior to construction, the Company assessed impacts on biodiversity, including noise, water use, and vegetation. Through community consultations and field surveys, it addressed over 10 ecological issues. During the construction phase, POWERCHINA identified protected species such as fire Salamanders, Yellow eyed spade footed toad, Bredia(sp) and Rhododendron(sp), prompting habitat protections, migration routes, and design changes to support their survival. POWERCHINA has made biodiversity protection a core pillar of its operations in Laos, safeguarding river fish and land species. With nearly three decades of presence in the country, the Company has gained extensive experience in protected area design and ecological project execution. As an early and effective contributor to biodiversity protection, POWERCHINA continues to advance localized, ESG-aligned ecological efforts across its international footprint. Through a series of innovative measures and long-term commitment, POWERCHINA has actively protected local ecological diversity and contributed to the sustainable development of Laos. Meanwhile, POWERCHINA has also been continuously practicing the concept of ecological protection on a global scale. In the UAE, the company has been committed to protecting desert ecosystems and promoting green energy projects. In Brazil, it has actively participated in the protection of aquatic environments and the promotion of biodiversity to help maintain local ecological balance. In Tanzania,POWERCHINA has assisted wildlife reserves in successfully rescuing five elephants that accidentally fell into a pit, an action that has been highly praised by the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority and the local is actively practicing the concept of sustainable development in multiple countries and regions around the world, working tirelessly to build a better global ecological home. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE POWERCHINA Sign in to access your portfolio
