No. 06 - 10/2005
06 October 2005

Environment

Dam projects on the Salween revived

Hydropower projects on the Salween, known as Nujiang in China, are being revived in the face of protests by activist groups from China, Burma and Thailand where the river runs through, according the latest edition of Watershed, a publication by Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA).

Wang Shucheng, China's Minister of Water Resources, told the National People's Congress in March that 4 of the proposed 13 dams will be built first, citing they would have less environmental impact. Appraisal and review for the 4 dams, which include Maji, Yabiluo, Liuku and Saige, has already started.

His disclosure came a year after Premier Wen Jiabao ordered the suspension of the original proposal in February 2004.

Two months later, Thailand and Burma signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on the joint development of hydroelectric projects along their common border.

Feasibility study is undergoing for two dams, Hatgyi (600 MW) and Tenasserim (600 MW). In addition, Thailand is gearing up to divert water from the Salween to the Bhumibol dam in Tak province.

80 activist groups from Thailand (50) and Burma (30), have recently (29 September) written a letter to President Hu Jintao, asking him to fully disclose the environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies to the public. Under Chinese law, disclosure of information and public participation are obligatory, they said.

Graphic courtesy: Watershed