Lower Se San 2 Dam

Lower Se San 2 Dam
Location of Lower Se San 2 Dam in Cambodia
Country Cambodia
Location 25 km (16 mi) upstream from Stung Treng
Coordinates 13°32′59.5″N 106°15′49.4″E / 13.549861°N 106.263722°E / 13.549861; 106.263722Coordinates: 13°32′59.5″N 106°15′49.4″E / 13.549861°N 106.263722°E / 13.549861; 106.263722
Status Proposed
Opening date 2019
Construction cost US$781.52 million
Owner(s) Royal Group
Hydrolancang International Energy
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Run-of-river
Impounds Sesan River
Height 75 m (246 ft)
Reservoir
Surface area 355 km2 (137 sq mi)
Power station
Operator(s) Hydro Power Lower Sesan 2 Co. Ltd.
Turbines 5 X 80 MW (110,000 hp)
Installed capacity 400 MW (540,000 hp) (max. planned)
Annual generation 1,998 GWh (7,190 TJ)

The Lower Se San 2 Dam (also: Lower Sesan 2 Dam and Han Se San 2 Dam) is a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Se San River in Stung Treng Province, northeastern Cambodia. The Se San River is a major Cambodian tributary of the Mekong, the two rivers joining in Stung Treng Province where the provincial capital of the same name is located. 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of this important junction on the Se San River, a hydropower dam has been proposed for development.

History

In 2007, a memorandum of understanding between Cambodia's Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy and Electricity of Vietnam was signed, including specifications for undertaking an environmental impact assessment and a feasibility study for the Lower Sesan 2 project. In January 2011, the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment licensed Electricity of Vietnam to make a US$816 million investment into the project.[1] The Cambodian government approved the project on 4 November 2012.[2] On 26 November 2012, an agreement on the dam construction was signed between the Royal Group and China's Hydrolancang International Energy.[3] Electricity of Vietnam announced that it has withdrawn from the project.[4]

Description

The project is carried out by the Hydro Power Lower Sesan 2 Co. Ltd., a joint company of the Royal Group of Cambodia and China's Hydrolancang International Energy. Electricity of Vietnam holds a 10% nominal stake in the project. Construction started in 2014 and the power plant should be completed by 2019. After 40 years of operation its ownership will be transferred to the government.[3] When completed, the power plant will have a capacity of 400 megawatts (540,000 hp) with an average output of 1,998 gigawatt-hours (7,190 TJ) per year.[1] It will have five turbines of 80 each.[5] The dam is expected to cost US$781 million.[3]

Impact

According to the environmental impact assessment, the dam's reservoir is expected to inundate numerous villages upstream from the dam, which will force the relocation of many thousands of villagers, many of whom have lived on or near the banks of the Se San River for generations. Both upstream and downstream, the effects of the dam are expected to drastically reduce the fishery resources on which many thousands more villagers depend for food and income. The effects will likely be felt as far away as the Tonlé Sap Lake.

Both the Sesan and Srepok rivers originate in Vietnam's central highlands before flowing through Stung Treng and Ratanakiri (and Mondulkiri) provinces in northeast Cambodia, making hydropower development along these two Mekong tributaries an international and transboundary concern.

Impact: Up to 2,000 people will be displaced. At least 38,675 people, including a large number of indigenous peoples, included in at least 86 villages located along the Sesan and Srepok Rivers and in the reservoir area would lose access to the vast majority of their fisheries resources due to the dam blocking fish migrations from the Mekong and Sekong Rivers up the Sesan and Srepok Rivers. In addition, at least 87 villages in Cambodia located along tributaries of these two rivers would also lose access to migratory fish. In total, at least 78,000 people living above the Sesan 2 dam site are expected to lose access to migratory fish[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Vietnam invests in Cambodia power plant". Vietnam Business & Economy News. Intellasia News Services. 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  2. ↑ Kuch Naren (2012-11-05). "Government Approves Dam On Lower Sesan". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  3. 1 2 3 Kuch Naren; Dene-Hern Chen (2012-11-27). "Agreement Signed for Construction of Lower Sesan 2 Dam". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  4. ↑ Kuch Naren; Dene-Hern Chen (2012-11-28). "Electricity Vietnam No Longer Involved in Lower Sesan 2 Dam". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  5. ↑ "EVN steps up hydropower project in Cambodia". VietnamPlus. Intellasia News Services. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  6. ↑ Best practices in Compensation and Resettlement for Large dam, by Ian G. Baird, Ph.D
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