Vietnam Plus –
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has recently decided to carry out consultations on the Pak Lay hydropower project in Laos, starting on August 8, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Vietnam’s consultation work is being held from August 2018 to February 2019 by the ministry and the Vietnam National Mekong Committee, with a focus on assessing the project’s consequences, especially those affecting Vietnam; holding national consultation workshops; and preparing Vietnam’s ideas at regional consultations.
Representatives of Vietnamese ministries and sectors, Mekong Delta localities, non-governmental organisations, and scientists are participating in the consultation procedures.
Pak Lay will be the fourth hydroelectric facility to be built on the Mekong River as proposed by the Lao government, following Don Sahong, Xayaburi, and Pak Beng.
On June 12, the Lao National Mekong Committee submitted a detailed description of the planned project to the MRC Secretariat for review and to inform member countries about the project’s scope and other requirements under the consultation process.