Laos to Delay Mekong Dam After Failing to Convince Neighbors

Laos agreed to delay proceeding with a $3.8 billion hydropower dam because of concerns among neighboring Mekong River countries that the project would disrupt fish catches and rice production downstream.

Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand will consider the project at another meeting with environment ministers “as they could not come to a common conclusion,” according to a joint statement after representatives met in Vientiane to consider the project. The next meeting will take place “as soon as possible,” Te Navuth, a Cambodian official who chaired today’s meeting, told reporters by phone from the Lao capital.