Vientiane: Construction is underway on Laos' latest large-scale Mekong River dam, satellite imagery analyzed by Radio Free Asia (RFA) shows. Experts told RFA that the Pak Beng hydropower project will be similar to other mainstream Mekong River dams, with Vientiane hopeful that sacrificing riparian ecosystems and relocating nearby villages will be worth the expected economic benefits.
According to Radio Free Asia, Laos has committed to its controversial strategy of becoming the "Battery of Southeast Asia," aiming to sell electricity to neighboring countries. The Pak Beng dam, once completed, will be the most upstream dam on the Mekong in Laos. This joint venture between a Chinese investment company and a Thai energy firm will have a generating capacity of 912 megawatts, producing an average of 4,775 gigawatt-hours annually-enough to power a mid-sized U.S. city for a year.
Satellite imagery from July 29 reveals a large earthen and rock embankment built across a river bend, creating a dry work area shielded from the river's flow. Within the diverted section, workers appear to be excavating and laying the foundation for the dam's main structure, as observed by Bruce Songhak Chung, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Security Strategy.
Chandaly Mao, a communications officer with the Mekong River Commission, noted that preparatory work has begun, with main construction scheduled to start in October 2026 after the wet season. The commission is an intergovernmental organization collaborating with the governments of the four Mekong basin countries to manage shared water resources and develop the Mekong sustainably.
Meanwhile, further downstream, the Luang Prabang dam is over 70% complete and will begin commercial operation in 2030. There are currently two operational dams and nine others in various stages of completion, according to the Stimson Center. The Pak Beng project is part of a larger trend, with more than 100 dams in Laos on Mekong tributaries, including the largest currently operational, the Xayaburi dam.
Brian Eyler, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Washington-based Stimson Center, stated that all these dams are built by foreign construction companies. Laos lacks the capability to build large dams independently. Under current arrangements, foreign companies own the dams for 20 to 30 years, collecting income while the Lao government receives taxes and royalties.
Critics are concerned that these arrangements may trap Laos in debt, making it vulnerable to foreign creditors, particularly Chinese firms. Experts warn of significant environmental and social impacts, including sediment trapping, fish passage issues, changes to the flow regime, and socioeconomic impacts on communities reliant on fisheries.
The Mekong River Commission has raised concerns about fish passage, sediment trapping, and the socioeconomic impacts on local communities. Dams can trap sediment and nutrients crucial for downstream ecosystems, potentially accelerating erosion and contributing to farmland loss.
Chung highlighted the potential for sudden water releases from dams, causing downstream flooding. Such events could force relocation of affected villages, further impacting local livelihoods.