IRN’s Nam Theun–Hinboun Campaign |
"We can only get about half as many fish as before the dam closed." Fishermen living along the Theun–Hinboun headpond, 1998.
"We are not greedy or picky people. We only want to be compensated for the difficulties we have had to deal with since the dam was built." Ban Vang Khong village leader, 1999.
When the Nam Theun–Hinboun Hydropower Project in Laos was completed in 1998,
the Asian Development Bank declared it a "winner" with "little
for the environment lobby to criticize." The joint venture project, partially
financed by the ADB and the Norwegian government, was considered a model for
hydropower development in Laos. The 210–MW project was promoted to export power
to Thailand and generate foreign currency for Laos.
However, studies have revealed that the project has had significant impacts on people’s
livelihoods. As a result of pressure from NGOs, the ADB now admits that thousands have
suffered losses to their livelihoods because of the project.
The impacts of Theun–Hinboun are far–reaching. The project, located in Bolikhamxai
and Khammouane Provinces of central Lao PDR, diverts water from the Theun River
to the Hai/Hinboun river basin (see map).
An independent researcher visited the project area in March 1998 and documented
severe and unmitigated impacts to villagers, including declines in fish catches, transportation
difficulties, flooding of vegetable gardens and erosion of fertile riverbanks
(see his report,
Trouble on the Theun–Hinboun and the update
published in 1999). Project developer Theun–Hinboun Power Company (THPC) now
admits that people in 57 villages have suffered impacts and should receive
compensation.
The ADB is working with THPC to develop and implement a mitigation and compensation
plan for affected people. IRN is committed to maintaining pressure on both institutions
to ensure that villagers receive the long–awaited compensation that they deserve.
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An article by IRN’s Aviva Imhof in Bankwatch, published by the NGO Forum on the ADB, examines Nam Theun 2’s failings and draws parallels to other ADB-funded dams in Laos: Theun-Hinboun, Nam Song and Nam Leuk. The article also highlights the ADB’s role in promoting a regional power grid and electricity trading system in the Mekong subregion. |
05-17-07 |
Read a letter from IRN to the Theun-Hinboun Power Company raising questions and concerns over ongoing problems facing villagers affected by the Theun-Hinboun dam project in Laos. |
01–09–2007 |
Canadian PhD student writes to Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) to highlight a livestock epidemic that occurred in Ban Pak Vang, a village located along the Hinboun River, in August 2006. The epidemic may be linked to increased flooding as a result of the dam. Read the letter to THPC (PDF). Read THPC's response (PDF). |
01–05–2007 |
Read a letter from IRN and Environmental Defense to the Asian Development
Bank urging the Bank to take long–delayed action to compensate communities
affected by three ADB–supported dam projects in Laos: Nam Leuk, Nam Song
and Theun–Hinboun. Read the
response from the ADB to this
letter (PDF).
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01–05–2007 |
by David J.H. Blake, World Rivers Review, February 2005.
David Blake, who was contracted by the Theun–Hinboun Power Company to review the company’s mitigation and compensation program, shares some of the review panel’s findings and his outlook on mitigating the impacts of Theun–Hinboun. |
02–2005 |
IRN Response to Theun–Hinboun Power Company Decision |
04–07–04 |
(PDF)
Hydropower projects developed over the past decade in Laos have left a legacy of destroyed livelihoods and damaged ecosystems. This paper documents the unresolved social and environmental impacts of five different dam projects in Laos. |
03–16–04 |
regarding outstanding compensation issues with Theun–Hinboun. |
10–08–01 |
to IRN regarding Theun–Hinboun. |
08–23–01 |
on Theun–Hinboun. |
06–18–01 |
Presented on May 10, 2001 in Honolulu, Hawai’i on the occasion of the ADB’s Annual Meeting.. |
05–10–01 |
Review of the Theun–Hinboun Power Company’s Mitigation and Compensation Program, Lao PDR, by Bruce Shoemaker.
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12–20–00 |
The role of the ADB in hydro–power development in the Mekong Region, by Charlie Pahlma |
09–2000 |
An Update on the Environmental and Socio–Economic Impacts of the Nam Theun–Hinboun Hydroelectric Dam and Water Diversion Project in Central Laos, report prepared for IRN, 15–17 August 1999. |
08–1999 |
Read the study prepared by the Theun–Hinboun Power Company’s fisheries specialist, Terry Warren, which the Theun Hinboun Power Company and ADB have refused to publish. (PDF) |
06–1999 |
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