Economy and industry
The Mekong doesn't need more destructive dams
On 11 May, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced that the proposed Sanakham hydropower project in Laos will undergo the MRC’s Prior Consultation process. Sanakham is the sixth mainstream dam to be submitted for Prior Consultation. The proposed Sanakham dam is expensive, unnecessary and risky — ...
SAVE THE MEKONG COALITION
Green consumption campaign to feature many new initiatives
The 2020 Green consumption campaign will take place from June 6 to 30 with many new initiatives and environmental projects, announced its organiser on June 3. The campaign is the 11th of its kind to be hosted by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) Newspaper ...
CSOs express concerns on Lao’s Mekong hydro project
Five civil society organisations (CSOs) in Cambodia working on the Luang Prabang hydropower project in Laos said in a press statement on Tuesday that it should be delayed because Lao authorities have insufficient details concerning the transboundary impact assessment and don’t have concrete measures to ...
Soth Koemsoeun
Laos' debt woes worsen as bills for China-funded dams loom
COVID-19 has rattled Laos’ debut in selling a U.S. dollar bond in international markets, adding pressure on a country whose “Wild West of dam building” splurge has put it in a precarious repayment situation, especially in regard to China, its leading lender. Sources familiar with the ...
MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR
Drought, scorching summer demand turn the heat on power industry
Prolonged drought and increased summer demand are exerting great pressure on the electricity industry as water levels in several major dams drop significantly. Doan Tien Cuong, director of Ialy Hydropower Company, told local media that water level at the 720 MW Ialy Hydropower Plant in the ...
Dang Khoa
JICA to commence studies for deep-sea port at Dawei SEZ
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will commence preliminary studies for the construction of a deep-sea port at Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) this year, officials of the Dawei SEZ Committee said. “JICA first proposed the study in December 2019 but the process was waylaid by ...
NESDC: 14.4m workers at risk
Thailand may lose up to 14.4 million jobs in the second and third quarters, largely because of the coronavirus outbreak and widespread drought, says the government’s planning unit. Of the total, some 8.4 million workers are estimated to be at risk of job loss, 2.5 million ...
CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
Vietnam development model needs upgrade: WB
Vietnam has reached an inflection point in its economic development and needs to look for new models, the World Bank says. In a report it released on Wednesday, ‘Vibrant Vietnam: Forging the Foundation of a High-Income Economy’, the WB said domestic and foreign business environments in Vietnam are ...
Ha Thu
Collapse in Myanmar Seafood Exports Puts 1 Million Jobs At Risk
About 1 million people may lose their jobs in Myanmar’s fisheries industry, with almost all exports ceasing since February as the spread of Covid-19 prompted major buyers, led by China and the U.S., to halt orders. Processing plants wouldn’t have been able to deliver anyway, as ...
Khine Lin Kyaw
Declaration of the People's Network of Isaan Mekong Basin, Thailand Proposal Concerning the Push for the Constructiion of Sanakham Hydropower Project on the Mekong
Amidst the spreading of the Coronavirus 2019 in every corner of the world, the government in each country, as well as the departments, organizations, and other related parties are vigorously collaborating in solving the problem with a hope of surviving the disaster that is impacting ...
