Dam Safety for Disaster Resilience

Potential of Hydropower for Economic Development

Laos is well-situated for hydropower. Its position within the Mekong River, high precipitation levels, and mountainous topography providing high levels of runoff offer great potential, which Laos seeks to capitalize on. The country’s central location allows it to supply electricity to sizable neighboring markets such as Thailand and Vietnam; and to a lesser extent also to Cambodia and Myanmar. It thus comes as no surprise that the Government of Laos has identified hydropower development as a key priority. Starting with only 3 dams in 1971, 78 dams were completed by 2019 and 22 more are planned until 2030, reaching a total of 100 dams.

From Disaster Response to Disaster Risk Management

When a dam failure in 2018 resulted in deaths, missing persons, displacements and destroyed livelihoods, it triggered a critical discussion on dam safety in Lao PDR. To prevent future disasters, Laos approached Switzerland due to its long-standing expertise and experience in hydropower safety.

The result is the Dam Safety and Institutional Assistance in Lao PDR (DSTIA) project, which is implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mines. It provides support in alignment with the new Law on Dam Safety approved in 2022 to achieve Lao PDR's aspiration towards sustainable and safe hydropower production, as outlined in the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 and the Ministry of Energy and Mines' 5-year plan (2021-2025).

Centering communities and their livelihoods

By improving dam safety, the project seeks to primarily benefit those living in downstream or catchment areas. Dams have adverse environmental effects on the Mekong, affecting fish migration, river hydrology, and sediment transfers. These considerations are essential, especially considering the Mekong River's significance for the regional biodiversity and for many communities who depend on it as a source of food and income.

To ensure these environmental and safety considerations are adequately considered, strengthening the necessary technical know-how among the relevant authorities, as well as a legal and institutional set-up to allow for a better enforcement of dam safety are critical.

The DSTIA Project focuses on:

• Enhancing the technical capacities of the Ministry of Energy and Mines to effectively serve as a dam safety supervising authority, mitigating disaster risks stemming from deficiencies in design, construction, maintenance, surveillance, and implementation of environmental and social safeguards.
• Strengthening the legal framework to align with international standards and providing support to the newly established Department of Industry Energy Safety Management.
• Institutionalizing dam safety trainings to create a skilled and qualified pool of dam safety specialists among dam owners and operators, government institutions, and universities.