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The People and their River, the World Bank and its Dam: Revisiting the Xe Bang Fai River in Laos

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  • Ian G. Baird
  • Bruce P. Shoemaker
  • Kanokwan Manorom

Abstract

type="main"> Sustained criticism in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in a decline of World Bank funding for large hydropower dams. The Bank subsequently participated in the World Commission on Dams process, which set higher global standards for hydropower dams. In 2005, the World Bank agreed to support the Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project (NT2) in Laos, and in 2010 NT2 began diverting water from the Theun River into the Xe Bang Fai River. The World Bank has promoted NT2 as a successful model of poverty alleviation, justifying support for other large dams. Assessing actual impacts and associated mitigation and compensation is thus timely. This article presents qualitative field research from early 2014 about the downstream impacts of NT2 in the Xe Bang Fai River basin and a description and analysis of efforts to compensate for losses. The authors consider the situation with the assistance of baseline data collected in 2001, before project approval. Findings suggest that NT2 has had a significant negative impact, including on the livelihoods of large numbers of people dependent on the river's resources. Many of those impacted view compensation and mitigation efforts as having failed to adequately address their losses. Further independent investigation and documentation are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian G. Baird & Bruce P. Shoemaker & Kanokwan Manorom, 2015. "The People and their River, the World Bank and its Dam: Revisiting the Xe Bang Fai River in Laos," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 46(5), pages 1080-1105, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devchg:v:46:y:2015:i:5:p:1080-1105
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/dech.12186
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mirumachi, Naho & Torriti, Jacopo, 2012. "The use of public participation and economic appraisal for public involvement in large-scale hydropower projects: Case study of the Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 125-132.
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    1. D’Souza Amabel & Brenda Parlee, 2020. "Fishing Livelihoods and Diversifications in the Mekong River Basin in the Context of the Pak Mun Dam, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Diana Suhardiman & Jonathan Rigg, 2021. "Aspirations undone: hydropower and the (re) shaping of livelihood pathways in Northern Laos," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(4), pages 963-973, December.
    3. Barnaby Joseph Dye, 2020. "Continuity or Change in the Infrastructure Turn? Reform of the Technicians’ Realm in a World Bank Dam," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(3), pages 627-651, July.
    4. Annys, Sofie & Van Passel, Steven & Dessein, Joost & Adgo, Enyew & Nyssen, Jan, 2020. "From fast-track implementation to livelihood deterioration: The dam-based Ribb Irrigation and Drainage Project in Northwest Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    5. Andrea Schapper & Christine Unrau & Sarah Killoh, 2020. "Social mobilization against large hydroelectric dams: A comparison of Ethiopia, Brazil, and Panama," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 413-423, March.
    6. Kirchherr, Julian & Matthews, Nathanial & Charles, Katrina J. & Walton, Matthew J., 2017. "“Learning it the Hard Way”: Social safeguards norms in Chinese-led dam projects in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 529-539.
    7. Oulavanh Keovilignavong & Diana Suhardiman, 2018. "Characterizing private investments and implications for poverty reduction and natural resource management in Laos," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(S1), pages 341-359, March.
    8. Ana Paula Coelho Clauberg & Renato de Mello & Flávio José Simioni & Simone Sehnem, 2021. "System for assessing the sustainability conditions of small hydro plants by fuzzy logic," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 300-317, March.
    9. Phouvong Phami & Jianhua He & Dianfeng Liu & Su Ding & Patrik Silva & Chun Li & Zhijiao Qin, 2020. "Exploring the Determinants of Food Security in the Areas of the Nam Theun2 Hydropower Project in Khammuan, Laos," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Güneş Murat Tezcür & Rebecca Schiel & Bruce M. Wilson, 2021. "The Effectiveness of Harnessing Human Rights: The Struggle over the Ilısu Dam in Turkey," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(6), pages 1343-1369, November.
    11. Mayeda, A.M. & Boyd, A.D., 2020. "Factors influencing public perceptions of hydropower projects: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    12. Kirchherr, Julian & Ahrenshop, Mats-Philip & Charles, Katrina, 2019. "Resettlement lies: Suggestive evidence from 29 large dam projects," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 208-219.

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