1. Hydropower Security System Management
The Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Project is a long-term project that builds a dam in the basin of the Mekong River with characteristics of a large storage dam. The dam will have 2 reservoirs to gather water during the rainy season and will release the water during the dry season to provide nourishment to agricultural land to be farmable in the bank of the Mekong River. The dam will incorporate two systems namely pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), which is utilized in Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam, and the run-of-the-river hydroelectricity (ROR), which is utilized in Chao Phraya Dam and Bang Pakong Diversion Dam. Such systems will benefit the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Project. Furthermore, the dam is monitored by Mekong River Commission who are responsible in managing the water flow outside the dam. The commission has the power to release the water outside the dam upon asking permission from the member countries. Contrarily, the Mekong River Commission does not need permission but shall inform member countries in order to utilize the water within the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant due to the condition placed upon the contract stating member countries shall utilize the water together. Therefore, there is a clear method of managing the water of the hydroelectric power plant.
2. Energy Security of Thailand
Regarding the energy security of Thailand, the project developer have signed a contract to transmit electricity to Thai electricity authorities for 29 years. After 29 years, the Xayaburi Power Plant will be owned by Lao People’s Democratic Republic, alike the Nam Ngum Power Plant. The electricity that has been produced will be transmitted through wires that have been designed to withstand the amount of electricity produced and built as long to Loei province in Thailand. The plant will not be permitted to transmit electricity elsewhere if the plant stops transmitting the electricity to Thailand.
3. Environment and Ecosystem Preservation
In order to preserve the environment and ecosystem of the fishes, the project plans to build an aquaculture to breed fish for commercial use after examination through monitors in the dam. During the construction phase of the dam, fishes will be able to swim through the water channel. Furthermore, there will be fish detectors to monitor how often the fishes swim through the channel as fishes were naturally able to swim both up and down the stream in the past. The construction of the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant has been built upon information received from multiple study visits internationally. One of the information was regarding the fish passing facilities system and the project developer hired a company to design and monitor such system.
4. Break-Even Point in Creating the Power Plant
The construction of the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant is estimated to have a break-even point after 18 years of electricity production.
5. Future Policy
In the future, there will be new power plants built in neighboring countries, such as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, among others, so electricity can be transmitted to Thailand.
6. Problems in Utilizing the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant
1) Construction Management: the time frame and the construction activities are not going as planned in the first phase.
2) Controlling the water level in the beginning of the construction phase: The southwest monsoon passed through the Andaman Sea through the Republic of the Union of Myanmar during the time. This increased humidity. Meanwhile, there were mixed rivers from different sources which led to water blockage in the construction area.
3) Protest from civil society
Views and Suggestions from the Study Visit
The Committee suggests that facts concerning hydroelectric power plants should be provided correctly in order for the civil society to accept the construction.
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