Deal #6529 Version 75987 Version 88133
Size under contract (leased or purchased area)
  • [current] 294200 ha
Size in operation (production)
  • [current] 10500 ha
Comment on land area
The Catchment Area is 2,942 sq km (294,200 ha). At Full Reservoir Level (FRL), the Surface Area is 105 sq km (10,500 ha) [Source: GEO]
Comment on intention of investment
Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion, installed capacity: 280 MW, developed by an independent power producer
Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion, installed capacity: 280 MW, developed by an independent power producer Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion also known as Nam Gnouang Dam. From the Nam Ngouang Powerhouse the water flows into the Nam Theun and down to the original Theun-Hinboun (TH) Dam. This has been modified to take more water than before from the Nam Theun. [Source: SISGEO]
Comment on jobs created (total)
The company said that β€˜the construction activities of this project meant an influx of approximately 3000 workers to a relatively remote corner of Laos.’ [Source: Statkraft]
Name of indigenous people
Hmong, Mon-Khmer groups, Lao
Comment on communities / indigenous peoples affected
Company source mentioned 4,000 people needs to be resettled. However, BankTrank mentioned that over 7,500 people are displaced and another 48,000+ people are affected downstream
Company source mentioned 4,000 people needs to be resettled. However, BankTrank mentioned that over 7,500 people are displaced and another 48,000+ people are affected downstream The construction of the Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Expansion or Nam Gnouang dam and flooding of 103 km2 affected 12 villages located along the Nam Gnouang valley. [Source: Statkraft]
Community consultation
Other
Comment on consultation of local community
The company said that they implemented an extensive consultation program in keeping with national and international policy guidelines. Source: Statkraft
Presence of land conflicts
Yes
Comment on presence of land conflicts
Some disputes about land arose between newcomers and host village (newcomers are affected people who were relocated to the new resettlement village or known as host village) [Source: Statkraft]
Comment on displacement of people
Over 7,500 mostly ethnic minority people were displaced
Over 7,500 mostly ethnic minority people were displaced There are five resettlement sites where affected people were relocated, they are: Nongxong, Phonthong, Sopphouan, Keosenkham and Phoumakneng relocation sites. [Source: Statkraft]
Comment on negative impacts for local communities
Aside from the 7,500 people displaced, another 48,441 people living downstream are also negatively affected due to increased flooding
Aside from the 7,500 people displaced, another 48,441 people living downstream are also negatively affected due to increased flooding Families living downstream moving from old villages to new consolidated settlement sites faced several pressures and constraints that compel them to involuntarily resettle. Moreover, many families in downstream faced food and income insecurity [Source: Field report of IR]
Promised compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
1,800 USD for resettler households and 1,450 USD for relocation sites (based on the company’s publication in 2010). It was also reported that resettled villagers got 0.5 ha plots in the relocation sites for growing crops, planting rice and fragrant bark trees. [Source: Statkraft]
Received compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
However, the field investigation report from IR stated that the grievance system for resettlement and compensation does not provide for independent channels of recourse [Source: Field report of IR]
Materialized benefits for local communities
Health, Education, Productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery...)
Comment on materialized benefits for local communities
The company failed to provide adequate livelihood support for displaced people (BankTrank, 2015)
The company failed to provide adequate livelihood support for displaced people (BankTrank, 2015) Education, public health and community infrastructure in the area around the project [Source: Prlog] The Social and Environmental Division (SED) set up the budget for its work on social and environmental programs which represented about 10% of the total project cost of $650 million. The company also built village hall, water supply to all households, electricity connections, improving rural roads and constructing a temple. [Source: Statkraft] Based on the IR report, many of the livelihood mitigation and restoration programs largely failed. [Source: Field report of IR]
Comment on mineral resources
In normal operation the dam releases water through the Nam Gnouang Powerhouse which generates up to 60 MW of electricity for domestic supply to ElectricitΓ© du Laos (EDL). [Source: Hobomap]
Fully updated
No
Yes

Location #Ue710HRT

areas
unknown field: location.areas
unknown field: location.areas

Data source #WgZL2JRF

File
Type
Other
Url
Keep PDF not public
No
Publication title
Nam Gnouang Hydroelectric Power Plant Laos - GEO
Organisation
Global Energy Observatory

Data source #iRtY4DEe

File
Type
Other
Url
Keep PDF not public
No
Publication title
Nam Gnouang Dam - Laos
Organisation
Sisgeo

Data source #xmV0CSCM

File
Type
Company sources
Url
Keep PDF not public
No
Publication title
Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project Social and Environmental Division
Organisation
THPC

Data source #YMoZtltP

File
Type
Research Paper / Policy Report
Url
Keep PDF not public
No
Publication title
An Assessment of the Impacts of the thxp_report 2014
Organisation
international rivers

Data source #VuKI7N02

File
Type
Media report
Url
Keep PDF not public
No
Publication title
Theun-Hinboun Hydro Expansion Switches On -- Theun-Hinboun Power Company _ PRLog
Organisation
PROLG

Data source #pNjuqTPI

Type
Other
Url
Keep PDF not public
No
Publication title
Theun-Hinboun Expansion Dam Info
Organisation
Hobomaps