HANOI — The largest hydroelectric project in Laos, which began selling power to Thailand last week, should suspend operations until it has fulfilled its obligations to local people, activists said Tuesday.
US-based watchdog International Rivers accused the Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) of flouting an agreement not to start commercial operations at their dam on the Nam Theun river before they had compensated affected villagers.
"The Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) is operating the dam illegally," Ikuko Matsumoto, the group's Lao programme director, said in a statement.
International Rivers said resettled communities were entitled to irrigated land while downstream villagers should have already received compensation for flooded gardens and alternative water supply sources.
More than 6,000 villagers were relocated to make way for the project.
"Dam operation should be suspended until the Nam Theun 2 Power Company complies with its legal agreements," International Rivers said.
NTPC announced on March 17 that it had begun supplying the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand with 1,000 megawatts of power, almost its entire capacity.
The World Bank, which has supervised and monitored the project, denied the activists' allegations.
"The notion that the project is in violation of legal agreements is incorrect," the Bank said in a statement to AFP.
It added that many people were already benefiting from a compensation programme that has been implemented for several years.
The power company said it was working on a range of social and environmental programmes and that independent monitors were checking the progress to ensure it met its obligations.
Laos is one of Asia's poorest nations but will earn royalties, dividends and taxes estimated at more than two billion dollars over the 25 years the power company will own the project, NTPC said.
Environmentalists had long opposed the development, which began in November 2005. The 1.45-billion-dollar Lao-French-Thai dam has a generating capacity of 1,070 megawatts.
pls don't blame Laos, the west should sut down your newclear power first , you have a very thing, why Lao people should not have it like you have ? we builded the dame in side our teritory but not in your country , Lao people have the rights to develop its own country , we need the peace, stability, development, prosperity , justice and well-being for our people, shut off you mount and turn off your lamps in your house then you will fell how is difficulty in your life living without eclectricity and linght , it is uncomfortable and un acceptable harm to your life ?
pls don't blame Laos, the west should sut down your newclear power first , you have a very thing, why Lao people should not have it like you have ? we builded the dame in side our teritory but not in your country , Lao people have the rights to develop its own country , we need the peace, stability, development, prosperity , justice and well-being for our people, shut off you mount and turn off your lamps in your house then you will fell how is difficulty in your life living without eclectricity and linght , it is uncomfortable and un acceptable harm to your life ?
Lao people
Lol... I can't finish reading each sentence with out laughing, this is too funny!
pls don't blame Laos, the west should sut down your newclear power first , you have a very thing, why Lao people should not have it like you have ? we builded the dame in side our teritory but not in your country , Lao people have the rights to develop its own country , we need the peace, stability, development, prosperity , justice and well-being for our people, shut off you mount and turn off your lamps in your house then you will fell how is difficulty in your life living without eclectricity and linght , it is uncomfortable and un acceptable harm to your life ?
Lao people
US-Watchdog International River must blame US drop many big bombs into many important rivers in Lao PDR like OU river, Xeng river including Theune river
pls don't blame Laos, the west should sut down your newclear power first , you have a very thing, why Lao people should not have it like you have ? we builded the dame in side our teritory but not in your country , Lao people have the rights to develop its own country , we need the peace, stability, development, prosperity , justice and well-being for our people, shut off you mount and turn off your lamps in your house then you will fell how is difficulty in your life living without eclectricity and linght , it is uncomfortable and un acceptable harm to your life ?
Lao people
they just want the NTPC comply with the agreement . thats all.. i didnt know that the PROTECT IS STILL OWEING VILLAGERS' MONEY..
Lao people have the rights to do , develop and improve living condidition in the counrty and for their people including projected of building the neclear power from 2030 for peaceful use and export it to our neighbor ...., you should consider your family first ok? then complain to Government ...
do not rise this issue again, avery thing had gone, the project is completed, the power had been exported to Thailand sice the first week of March 2010. Lao people supported the efforts made by the Government.
do not rise this issue again, avery thing had gone, the project is completed, the power had been exported to Thailand sice the first week of March 2010. Lao people supported the efforts made by the Government.
The NGO cares about the lives of those who had been affected fearing that the authorities concerned will not keep their commitments and implementing it in a tangible way, the NGO doen't want the poor people to become poorer, I understand that but instead of stoping the production let the namtheun make money from it and continue to support the affected people
pls don' care about the Lao people in the dam's sit area, Lao Government is taking of their own people better then you care your family. INGOs and other international organizations had been visited the villages arounding the adm so offen. the outcome and assesment of the groups were positive. the NT.2 hydropwer dam is full legal,world bank is supportive parthner of the Lao Government and NT.2 .The project has made the very great efforts and contribution to the poverty eradication as well as environment protecttion central part of Laos , pls go and see by your own eyes then you can the make conlcusion, the dam is bad or good?. Laos will continue to build a lot of dams and some of them will be completed very soon. Lao people alway be united and stand forever.
