Kate Lazarus, CPWF Mekong

What?

In the Mekong, the CPWF looks ways to optimise the management, use and operation of dams

and their reservoirs.

Why?

Between them, the GMS countries have a hydropower potential of 1,090,000 GWh.

As of 1999, just 20,500 GWh had been developed.

The aggregate demand for electricity in GMS is projected to

rise from 108,850 GWh in 1995 to 600,000 GWh in 2020.

Virtually every study of the impact of the dams on the Mekong System predicts substantial

environmental and social costs as a consequence of their development.

The single biggest change to water use and its management in the Mekong today and into the

future is hydropower development.

But these developments also open up opportunities - agricultural, economic, environmental and social.

How?

To explore this idea, we've developed six projects.

1. Optimizing reservoir management for livelihoods.

2. Water valuation.3. Optimising the management of cascades or

systems of reservoirs at catchment level.4. Water governance at the basin scale.5. Coordination and change.6. Hydropower governance and the development

of partnerships and knowledge-sharing.

We’re looking for new partners, new ideas and new initiatives to help us achieve our vision

Where?

Our projects are scaled – they work at the dam, catchment and basin levels.

We have chosen to work on one

completed dam (Yali); one partially

constructed dam (Nam Theun Hinboun

Expansion); and one planned dam (Lower

Sesan 2).

While the bulk of our field work will be in Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao PDR, Project 4

focuses on the basin scale and Project 6 has a focus in China and Thailand as well.

Cambodian partners

MOUs with MOWRAM and pending with MOE. Agreements with MIME and SNEC.

Project partners – numerous Government and Non-governmental organisations

Thank you for your attention!!

www.waterandfood.org