The unseen human cost of cheap powerA photo from a Facebook user shows villagers waiting to be rescued as water rises following the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam collapse in Laos. They are still waiting for new houses promised by the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company (PNPC), the developer of the 410-megawatt dam. About 86% of the electricity generated from this dam is sold to Thailand under a 27-year power purchase agreement. While their livelihoods will likely not fully recover, the construction of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam is complete. We also know the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy disaster could have been prevented had the constructors applied advanced engineering technology and methodology data.

Source: Bangkok Post July 28, 2020 20:26 UTC