Laos held a “groundbreaking” ceremony on Wednesday for a US$3.5 billion hydropower dam on the Mekong River that is opposed by environmentalists and some neighbouring countries because of the possible impact on livelihoods, fisheries and agriculture.
But it was unclear when actual construction of the contentious Xayaburi dam would start, with preliminary work on access roads and the riverbank already under way, and Laos’ prime minister saying plans were still being considered.
The poor Southeast Asian country has ambitions to become the “Battery of Southeast Asia” through power exports from dams across the 4,900 km Mekong.
The “groundbreaking” ceremony, which normally celebrates the formal start of construction, went ahead the morning after 29 European and Asian states, some of which have criticised the dam, held a summit meeting in Laos’ capital, Vientiane.
Thai construction giant Ch Karnchang Pcl has been carrying out what it says is preliminary work on the dam for nearly two years, with Lao officials repeatedly playing down the extent of the work.
A journalist at the site on Wednesday said substantial construction had taken place, including access roads and work on the riverbanks, but nothing appeared to have been built on the river itself.