6,100 ha, located in Borikhan district and situated immediately to the south of the NNP1 re-regulation dam, was allocated for company to implement Houay Soup Resettlement Area (HSRA). [Source: Vietstock]

Under construction

Under construction The project was expected to start to generate electricity in January 2019 [Source: Vietstock]

The SIA report presented that it was estimated that there would be about 1,000 to 1,800 workers/day involved in the project, depending on the stage during construction. [Source: SIA report]

The Nam Ngiep 1 Power Company is owned by three partners, from Japan, Thailand and the Lao PDR. The Company is co-owned by KPIC Netherlands, a subsidiary of Japan’s Kansai Electric Power, EGAT International of Thailand, and the Lao Holding State Enterprise.

The Nam Ngiep 1 Power Company is owned by three partners, from Japan, Thailand and the Lao PDR. The Company is co-owned by KPIC Netherlands, a subsidiary of Japan’s Kansai Electric Power, EGAT International of Thailand, and the Lao Holding State Enterprise. On 14 August 2014 the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$ 144 million loan for the construction of the Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project [Source: International River & Mekong Watch]

Company source: "Around 4,000 people, mainly ethnic Hmong, were resettled to the Houaysoup area of Bolikhamxay and other districts in both Bolihamxay and Xaysomboun provinces."

Company source: "Around 4,000 people, mainly ethnic Hmong, were resettled to the Houaysoup area of Bolikhamxay and other districts in both Bolihamxay and Xaysomboun provinces. Most of people who were required to resettle were from four villages (Houaypamom, Sopphuane, Namyouak and Sopyouak) in Hom District, Xaysomboun Province. Also, a hamlet of Hatsaykham village in Bolikhan District of Bolikhamxay was also required to resettle. [Source: Company website]

Company source: "Techniques used to communicate with villagers include focus group discussions and village meetings, and use of visual information such as pictures, diagrams, and three-dimensional models."

Serious concerns over safeguard violations were raised by International organizations due to this dam project. The statement by International Rivers and Mekong Watch once stated that ‘Specific safeguard violations in this case include the lack of understandable, accessible information provided to affected people during the consultation phase, the lack of freely given consent from affected people to resettle or relinquish land and the disregard for a precautionary approach.’ [Source: International River & Mekong Watch]

“We have lived in this place for more than thirty years, we have worked on the land, we don’t want to leave the land now. There is no way the compensation offered to us by the company can replace the livelihood we have.” - Group of villagers living in area planned to be inundated by the reservoir of Nam Ngiep 1 Dam [Source: International Rivers]

Company source: "Around 4,000 people required resettlement."

Company source: "Around 4,000 people required resettlement." The nearby villages of Hat Gniun and Thahuea have agreed to be “host” communities for the resettlement area. [Source: Company website]

Loss of habitat, disturbance to wildlife, changes in water quality and water flow

The SIA report identified the significant Impact to local people due to the project. In the upper reservoir area, 178 households would be impacted by the inundation of the reservoir and thus by Land Acquisition and Resettlement of the Project. Out of these 178 households, 15 would lose their houses. In the lower reservoir area, 384 households would lose their houses and most of their agricultural land and they also have to resettle. About 33 households in the construction area, inundated by the re-regulation pond. About 21 households in the two host communities will have to be compensated for land acquisition in the resettlement site. A lot of them would lose houses and agricultural land [Source: SIA Report] There were also environmental impacts such as Biodiversity loss, deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution, decreasing water quality, reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity [Source: Ejatlas]

Based on the IAP report in Nov 2021, The IAP (Independent Advisory Panel) is disappointed with the quality of rural infrastructure at resettlement site [Source: ADB]

Export

95% of electricity will be exported to Thailand and the remainder will be used for domestic consumption. [Source: Company website & Vietstock]

The SIA report indicated that ‘manual activities will be replaced by providing accessible and clean drinking water supply systems, contributing to reduction of carrying water, as well as to improved health [of women]. The number of women and children attending the school will be increased by providing good primary and secondary educational facilities such as school and increased care and health information for women and children through the improvement of village and district health facilities. In addition, older women will be given skill training in handicrafts and other economic activities and marketing opportunities will be assessed and supported via the livelihood activity programs. The Project will implement a Gender Equity policy; this includes a pro-active policy during consultations and gender equality in all legal matters.’ [Source: SIA report]