It would appear that after all this time it is finally coming to a head & the notice of others...
Laos' work on the Mekong river draws criticism
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18686438
It would seem that work is starting on the first of the Laos dams, be that unofficially official or not.
Interesting that it is being built by a Thai company & that Thailand has committed to purchase the huge majority (95%) of the electricity produced by the dam.
On the surface it is a difficult balance between the supply of electricity without using carbon or nuclear energy balanced against the environmental impact before & after the dam.
The body that I thought was there to provide the balanced & definitive view of impacts & benefits was the Mekong River Commission. While the World Bank and Swedish & German Governments have all thrown extra cash at the body (to the tune of 24 million US Dollars) it seems rather dumb on the topic on its' web site. It is seemingly more interested in conferences to talk about the need to 'balance' the conflicting demands of water, energy & food from the Mekong rather than putting the facts & figures out to the public. In the meanwhile the Governments carry on doing whatever they desire, irrespective to down, or up, river consequences.
