Hydropower development in laos don sahong experience in addressing social and environmental issues

Presented by Mega First Corporation Berhad (MFCB) 1Slide

Hydropower development in Laos: Don Sahong experience in addressing social and environmental issues

3rd Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy, November 2013

Session Question:Why is it sensible for hydropower developers to pursue successful social and environmentalpolicies and strategies?


Overview: Measures of success for Don Sahong

Choosing a good locationNegotiating CA with Govt of LaosChanging public perception of Don Sahong Project



Siphandone (4000 Islands)

Don Sahong dam site

Great Fault LinePhapheng Falls

Siphandone Area

Landsat Image

One geological feature - the Great Fault Line



Great Fault Line - a natural dam Phapheng Falls: natural spillway and formidable barrier


5Slide

Is Don Sahong a good Hydro Power site?World Bank - *Good Dams and Bad Dams

* Criteria from “Good Dams and Bad Dams: Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Project”, World Bank, 2003**WB did not mention this but impacts on biomass can also be very important

6Slide

Indicator Unit Don Sahong Score Guideline to assess ESIA risk

Area flooded km2 1.2 Minor loss of terrestrial habitat

Families resettled PAH 1 15 New houses less than 2km away

Families direct affected PAH 2 300 Little community disruption

Water retention (water quality) Hours <4 Water quality unchanged

Reservoir easily flushed

Power density W/m2 204 Hydro more GG efficient than equivalent thermal power at > 0.5

Flood Area /Power Ha/MW 0.5 Small is best - global average is 60Potential effect on biodiversity(and biomass)**

Aquatic protected

species+++ x Need specific management plans

Is Don Sahong a good Hydro Power site?YES - if fish migration impacts are mitigated

* Criteria from “Good Dams and Bad Dams: Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Project”, World Bank, 2003**WB did not mention this but impacts on biomass can also be very important

Presented by Mega First Corporation Berhad (MFCB) 7Slide3rd Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy, November 2013

Negotiating a Concession Agreement

• CA agreement not yet signed• Special Environmental and Social Obligations– Don Sahong is negotiating SESO version 25– 66 clauses plus Appendices

• Laws and regulations to protect people of Lao PDR against social and environmental damage by hydropower developers are in place

Presented by Mega First Corporation Berhad (MFCB) 8

Debunking the myths

MYTH – Construction is underwayFACT - No Concession Agreement so no construction work MYTH - Will block the mainstream of the MekongFACT - project will dam one of seven major channels crossing the Khone fallsMYTH - Will devastate the endangered Irrawaddy dolphinsFACT - Threat to dolphins is from existing, poorly managed human activitiesMYTH - Will trap sediment and reduce fertility in the deltaFACT - Sediment trapping is insignificant

2% of annual load for first 2-3 years – then equilibrium



Debunking the myths

MYTH - Will block the ONLY dry season upstream migration pathwayFACT - other natural dry season pathways exist. Don Sahong Project is committed to improving them for fish migration.

The biggest myth of all – closing the Hou Sahong as a pathway for upstream fish migration cannot be mitigated.


Presented by Mega First Corporation Berhad (MFCB) 10November 2013

Open Letter from “Concerned Scientists” (2007)

“there is no [constructed fishway] design available anywhere in the world that would enable the numerous species to move through it under the wide range of flow conditions”

Completely miss-represents the project …

There is no proposal for constructed fishways

or even ‘nature-like fish passages’.

Project will modify constrictions in existing channels,

to allow fish to migrate more easily upstream.


Project is not proposing constructions like these


But we have trialed improvements in the Wai, Xang Pheuak Noi, and Sadam channels

Hou Wai modified 2011 Hou Sadam modified 2013

Hou Xang Pheuak Noi Modified 2012

Presented by Mega First Corporation Berhad (MFCB) Slide 123rd Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy, November 2013


Achievements in the pre-construction phase

• Three trial migration pathways completed• Influenced behaviour of local fishers • to remove their traps and establish conservation zones

• Acquired extensive fishery baseline data• developing rigorous scientific methods to monitor performance

These engineering, social and scientific capabilities are necessary for the project to achieve its primary environmental goal -

To improve the proportion of fish successfully migrating upstream across the Khone falls



Don Sahong policies for environmental and social sustainability

• One guiding principle – “No one should be disadvantaged by this project”

• Win-Win-Win outcome – Benefit local community (better living standards)– Benefit to nation and region (cheap green energy) – Benefit to the developer (return on investment)

• What is the biggest project risk?– Not mitigating environmental and social impacts

successfully



Session Question

Why is it sensible for Don Sahong Project to pursue successful social and environmental policies and strategies?

Enlightened self-interest“what is in the public interest is eventually in the interest of all individuals and groups”

What are the consequences for this developer if the environmental and social mitigation measures fail?


Real environmental and social risks

• If fishermen don’t have viable alternative livelihoods?

• Consequence- increased fishing pressure on alternative fish migration pathways

• If alternative migration pathways are ineffective?• Consequence – potential breach of contract– Minister Viraphonh “If anything happens [to reduce

fish migration success], it’s so easy: You just blast the dam and it becomes another natural waterfall”


Minimising project risk

• This project is ensuring that environmental and social mitigation measures do not fail by:– Developing very detailed understanding of the

physical nature of the Khone falls around the project

– Establishing rigorous defensible monitoring and research programs centered on the fishes

– Learning from the experience of others

18Slide

THANK YOU

Tat Liew: main constriction point in Hou Sahong and favoured location for (illegal) lee traps


Fishing pressure is intense in the dry seasonOne branch of Hou Sadam (February 2013)



Dry season passage through Tat Pho – H. Sahong

Add a pic of fish traps in H Sahong

Main constriction for upstream migration at Tat Pho

12 Lee trapsbelow the Tat Pho rapid


Hydropower development in laos don sahong experience in addressing social and environmental issues

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