Key Issues to be Addressed Before Nam Theun 2 Commercial Operation

Date:

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

On September 8, 2009, International Rivers sent a letter to the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Executive Directors on the key issues that must be addressed before Nam Theun 2 begins commercial operation.

Woman in Sop Ma resettlement village in the Nakai Plateau is planting rice and corn in NTPC's allocated 0.66ha of land.

A copy of the letter was also sent to the U.S Department of the Treasury and the Nam Theun 2 Power Corporation (NTPC). The letter addresses International Rivers' main concerns and recommendations based on a site visit in May 2009, when International Rivers visited six villages on the Nakai Plateau, three villages affected by project construction in Gnommalat and Mahaxai, and 11 villages in the Xe Bang Fai and hinterland areas.

As the Commercial Operation Date (COD) nears, NTPC still has many tasks to complete. NTPC, the Lao government, the World Bank and the ADB are responsible for ensuring that project-affected communities will, at a minimum, be able to restore their livelihoods. If NTPC is to comply with the Concession Agreement, many of the issues raised in our letter must be addressed before Nam Theun 2 begins commercial operation later this year. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank must take responsibility for ensuring that these issues are addressed.

The response to our letter from the World Bank and ADB is available here.

Attached files: