Urgent Call to Stop Don Sahong Dam

November 16, 2013

The Honorable H.E. Mr. Thongsing THAMMAVONG
Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Subject: Urgent Call to Stop Don Sahong Dam

Your Excellency,

We, the Viet Ecology Foundation (VEF), an NGO based in California in the United States, would like to express our concern that the Lao government’s Don Sahong Dam project, similar to the Xayaburi Dam project, has not duly followed the regional consultation process mandated by the 1995 Agreement. We are also concerned that its trans-boundary impact on Cambodia and Vietnam has not been addressed. We also call on your attention to the 2007 Plea to Abandon Plans for the Don Sahong Dam in the 2007 Open Letter by 28 Non-Governmental Organizations and take proper action.

The 2013 Don Sahong Hydropower Project Cumulative Impact Assessment Report
 
The January 2013 EIA/CIA report prepared by the National Consulting Company for the developer fails to address the problem that the dam blocks the Hou Sahong Channel, the only mainstream path that supports fish migration in dry seasons. This means the EIA/CIA report has ignored the Dam’s trans-boundary impact from Laos to Cambodia and Vietnam.

The 1995 Mekong Agreement

The International Rivers Network (IRN) reported that: “the Laos Vice Minister of Energy and Mines said the project would not undergo prior consultation. He argued that that the Don Sahong Dam is not a mainstream project because it will not stretch across the entire width of the river.”
 
However, the IRN cited that: “Under Article 5.1 of the 1995 Mekong Agreements’ Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement, prior consultation is required for all intra-basin projects on the mainstream that use dry-season flows.”

Don Sahong Dam is proposed on Hou Sahong, a mainstream channel of the Mekong. Hou Shahong is not a tributary because it does not have a catch basin of its own. The Don Sahong Dam project is subject to the regional consultation per the 1995 Mekong Agreement.

The 1992 Helsinki Convention and Trans-Boundary Impacts
 
In 2007, 34 scientists submitted an open letter from the University of Sydney to all governmental and international agencies responsible for the Mekong River stating that:

“The most serious negative environmental impact of the dam—and one that should be of serious concern to people living along the Mekong River and its tributary rivers and streams throughout southern and central Laos, including the Xekong River and its tributaries in Xekong and Attapeu provinces, as well as Cambodia and Vietnam to the south, and Thailand to the north—relates to fish and fisheries. The Don Sahong dam would block the major channel in the Khone Falls area used by the great majority of fish migrating up from Cambodia, especially in the dry season.”

“If a dam is built there and blocks that migration route, fish may not be able to get up the Khone Falls at all, and would not be able to enter Laos from Cambodia. This would have serious negative consequences for fisheries production throughout the region.”

Word Wildlife Federation, WorldFish Center, scientists from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Sydney have identified the clear adverse and trans-boundary impact of the Don Sahong Dam. If the Laotian government proceeds to build the Don Sahong Dam, violating the 1995 Mekong Agreement, Laos would be liable for the harm this dam causes to Cambodia and Vietnam, including under such international laws as the 1992 Helsinki Convention.

The Don Sahong Dam and Ramsar Sites in Cambodia and Vietnam

The productivity of the Lower Mekong to date remains vibrant, which can be attributed to the rich biological reserve and productivity at the Khone Falls, the Champasak province of Laos, the Stung Treng Ramsar Site of Cambodia, and the Tram Chim Ramsar of Vietnam. The livelihood and food security of the people of three countries—Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam—depend on the fish, water and nutrients produced by the dynamics of the Mekong’s eco-environment. Laos as a Ramsar contracting party could be in violation of the 1971 Ramsar Convention if trans-boundary impacts from Don Sahong to Cambodia and Vietnam are disregarded.

The International Obligations per Laos’ 1999 Environmental Protection Law

The Don Sahong Dam would wreak havoc to the Siphandone, the four thousand islands, a national treasure of the Laotian people. The Don Sahong Dam project may violate the intent and spirit of Laos’ own 1999 Environmental Protection Law. Article 33 of the Law states that Laos is to “implement obligations under international conventions and agreements on the environment to which Laos PDR is a party.”
 
Save the Irrawaddy Dolphin and the Pla Beuk

Lastly, the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin, the Pla Beuk and other fish species could be doomed to extinction if not allowed to swim freely in this part of the Mekong’s watercourse shared by the three nations.

Inequitable Benefit and Cost

The 240 MW capacity from Don Sahong Dam amounts to less than 10% of the Laos’ present national power generation capacity. The Laotian people do not need to sacrifice the pristine Siphandone wetland to gain that extra minor capacity. Exercising energy conservation can spare Laos twice as much power from Don Sahong. The loss of fish production, vital protein supply, fresh water, sediments and nutrients caused by Don Sahong Dam cannot be replaced. This loss is the food security millions poor Mekong people cannot survive without it.

For these reasons, we earnestly request that the Laotian government cancel the Don Sahong Dam project, remove its threat to the Mekong people, protect the environment for future generations and preserve the mutual friendship with neighboring countries.
Yours sincerely,

Long P. Pham, P.E.
Chairman
Viet Ecology Foundation