In Laos, a ‘very dangerous dam’ threatens an ancient world heritage site

via Mongabay, 10 December 2021: The dam that threatens Luang Prabang.

• The government of Laos plans to build a 1,460-megawatt hydroelectric dam upstream of the ancient city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The dam is part of the government’s aim to bring in revenue by selling electricity to its neighbors; the country already has 78 dams in operation, including the Xayaburi mega dam 130 kilometers downstream from Luang Prabang.
• Public dissent is muted within the one-party state, but experts and downstream countries are raising the alarm about the dam’s potential impacts on the heritage site and the broader Mekong ecosystem.

Source: In Laos, a ‘very dangerous dam’ threatens an ancient world heritage site