To hell with heffalumps

Recently the Thai Government announced that it would build a nuclear power plant to deal with its rising energy needs. The Lao Minister for Energy instantly rejected any notion that this might affect Lao power projects or the inference that diversifying income sources might be wise. But his vulnerability showed.

Public outcry about coal plants, has initiated calls for Thailand to initiate more renewable energy projects. This comes hot on the heels of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who pointed out that South-East Asian nations like Thailand and Lao are expected to suffer most from climate change in terms of loss of life and effects on the economy. The increased frequency and severity of extreme weather producing more intense flooding and droughts are anticipated. All of which will be bad news for large mammals like elephants that eat 150-200kg of green mass a day.

While there is substantial evidence that Laos people could benefit directly from eco tourism and low impact activities like sericulture, the government seems hell bent on destroying the natural wealth that most would envy.

Stop Press: last week the Government of Lao announced that the Hongsa lignite mine had had difficulty finding co-financiers, possibly due to sustained NGO pressure on Banpu. In what can be regarded as a small win for regional NGO’s, the power plant has now been put on hold. But next year’s Elephant Festival will be held in Paklay - Sayaboury - on the bend of the Mekong which is the proposed site for a huge run of the river dam. More on that later.