WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MRC IN HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEKONG BASIN?
In recent years, interest in the potential for hydropower development in the lower part of the basin has escalated. Many new proposals to develop hydropower schemes are being advanced by Mekong governments and the private sector, both on the tributaries, and more recently, a revival of interest for projects on the mainstream. Pursuant to the MRC’s mandate under the 1995 Agreement “to promote joint interests: to prevent water from being wasted, to sustain livelihoods and to protect the basin’s environment including its natural resources, aquatic life, water conditions and ecological balance;” the MRC’s Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower was formulated in 2008 and endorsed by the MRC Joint Committee in March 2009. The Initiative is coordinated across many of MRC’s programmes and works to: • Facilitate dialogue to balance economic, social and environmental performance: Central to the MRC’s work is the assistance it provides to Member Countries to help them understand and balance the imp
