The cost of Laos’ quest to be Southeast Asia’s ‘battery’, and the World Heritage town at risk

via Channel NewsAsia, 30 October 2022: The Luang Prabang dam is thought to potentially affect the World Heritage value of the town. Video of the entire story is below.

Laos’ dams will help Southeast Asia meet its growing energy demand without adding to its carbon emissions; indeed, hydropower accounts for the largest share of global renewable energy capacity, helping countries reduce their reliance on planet-warming fossil fuels.

But at what cost, the programme Insight finds out.

“There’s a lot of concern over the Luang Prabang dam — that it’ll impact people’s livelihoods and even the World Heritage values of the town,” said University of Sydney emeritus professor of human geography Philip Hirsch.

It will sit between Pak Beng, another dam being planned upstream, and the downstream Xayaburi dam. It is being developed by PetroVietnam Power and CK Power, a subsidiary of Thai construction firm CH Karnchang.

Source: The cost of Laos’ quest to be Southeast Asia’s ‘battery’, and the World Heritage town at risk – CNA