Review of ESIA Report of Phou Ngoy Hydropower Project
Client
Charoen Energy and Water Asia Co., Ltd. (CEWA) and
Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Location
Vientiane Laos
Project Duration
December 2020 – August 2021
Background
The Department of Environment (DOE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) is responsible for reviewing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of investment development projects in Lao PDR to ensure that they are developed sustainably.
The Phou Ngoy Hydropower Project (HPP) is located in the Mekong River in Champasak Province Lao PDR. The project developer, Charoen Energy and Water Asia Company Limited (CEWA), completed a revised draft of the ESIA report in March 2020 and submitted it to DOE for review and consideration based on Lao regulatory requirements. Due to the complex nature of the project, DOE agreed with the developer to hire international experts to help to review the ESIA based on Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment No. 21/GOV, dated January 31, 2019.
Services Provided
Accent Environmental Pty Ltd (Accent) and ESL Sole (ESL) (referred to as Accent/ESL) were commissioned by the Department of Environment to undertake an independent technical review of the March 2020 draft environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) of the Phou Ngoy Hydropower Project. This is a proposed run-of-river hydropower development being developed by Charoen Energy and Water Asia (CEWA) and located on the Mekong River in Champasak Province, Lao PDR.
The technical review was undertaken to determine consistency with Lao legislation and regulations, MRC regulations and international guidelines. The review assessed the conclusions reached in the ESIA regarding the nature and extent of potential and residual environmental, social and health impacts, and considered whether the proposed impact management and mitigation measures are appropriate for a project of this type in the Mekong River environment.