Mekong River Commission and its first test in a transboundary impact incident - Ialy Dam

International Workshop onInternational Workshop onInstitutional Capacity Development in Transboundary BasinsInstitutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins

10 - 12 November 2008, Bonn, Germany10 - 12 November 2008, Bonn, Germany

Le Duc TrungLe Duc TrungActing Secretary GeneralActing Secretary GeneralViet Nam National Mekong CommitteeViet Nam National Mekong Committee



Mekong Basin & CooperationMekong Basin & Cooperation Mekong River Basin covers Chiana, Mekong River Basin covers Chiana,

Myanmar, Lao, Thailand, Cambodian and Myanmar, Lao, Thailand, Cambodian and Viet NamViet Nam

The river ranked 12The river ranked 12thth in length & 8 in length & 8thth in flow in flow Viet Nam contributes 8% in area and 11% in Viet Nam contributes 8% in area and 11% in

flowflow Mekong cooperation was started in 1957 Mekong cooperation was started in 1957

focusing on planning of water resource focusing on planning of water resource developmentdevelopment

After a brief break (2 years), IMC was After a brief break (2 years), IMC was formed formed

With the Cambodia came back, the With the Cambodia came back, the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin was signed in 1995River Basin was signed in 1995

Mekong River Commission was established Mekong River Commission was established to cooperate in all fields of sustainable to cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basinresources of the Mekong River Basin



MRC Institutional Set-upMRC Institutional Set-up Members are Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, ThailandMembers are Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand

and Viet Namand Viet Nam China and Myanmar, are dialogue partners to the MRCChina and Myanmar, are dialogue partners to the MRC MRC consists of three permanent bodies: MRC consists of three permanent bodies:

The Council with member of ministerial levelThe Council with member of ministerial levelThe Joint Committee with member at no less than Department Director The Joint Committee with member at no less than Department Director General level ;andGeneral level ;andThe Secretariat located in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and headed by a CEO to The Secretariat located in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and headed by a CEO to provide technical and administrative services to the JC and the Councilprovide technical and administrative services to the JC and the Council

The MRC is funded by contributions from the four member countries and The MRC is funded by contributions from the four member countries and from aid donors.from aid donors.

Donor Consultative Group meeting are organized annually to ensure Donor Consultative Group meeting are organized annually to ensure effective consultation with donor communityeffective consultation with donor community



Institutional ArrangementsInstitutional ArrangementsGoverned by the 1995 Mekong Agreement, a number of legislative documents Governed by the 1995 Mekong Agreement, a number of legislative documents

have been prepared, widely known as the set of Water Utilization Rules:have been prepared, widely known as the set of Water Utilization Rules: Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing (approved (approved

2001)2001);; Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (approved (approved

2003)2003);; Procedures for Water Use Monitoring Procedures for Water Use Monitoring (approved 2003)(approved 2003);; Procedures for Maintenence of Flows on the Mainstream Procedures for Maintenence of Flows on the Mainstream (approved 2006)(approved 2006);; Procedures for Water Quality Procedures for Water Quality (pending for approval)(pending for approval);; Guidelines for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (under (under

preparation) preparation) And other Techncial Guidelines to implement approved docsAnd other Techncial Guidelines to implement approved docs

Establishment of permanent or ad-hoc bodies Establishment of permanent or ad-hoc bodies (sub-committees, working (sub-committees, working groups, task forces …)groups, task forces …)

And set-up of bilateral channelsAnd set-up of bilateral channels



Ialy Hydropower Dam incidentIaly Hydropower Dam incident Sesan river is a main tributary of Sesan river is a main tributary of

the Mekong river systemthe Mekong river system Ialy is a key hydropower project Ialy is a key hydropower project

in the cascade Viet Nam planned in the cascade Viet Nam planned to build in the sub-basin, 70 km to build in the sub-basin, 70 km from border with Cambodiafrom border with Cambodia

Feb/2000 a careless release Feb/2000 a careless release from Ialy dam caused serious from Ialy dam caused serious lost and damages to Cambodian lost and damages to Cambodian people downstreampeople downstream

The regional cooepration has The regional cooepration has come to its first alert and real come to its first alert and real challengechallenge

The response was quick in bilateral channel of all levels, with assistance from The response was quick in bilateral channel of all levels, with assistance from MRCSMRCS

Mitigation measures were takenMitigation measures were taken Immediate measures relating to the dam operation were agreed Immediate measures relating to the dam operation were agreed



Institutional ArrangementsInstitutional Arrangements Appropriate dam operation and flow regulation on the Sesan river;Appropriate dam operation and flow regulation on the Sesan river; Maintenance of an effective notification mechanism on the flow regulationMaintenance of an effective notification mechanism on the flow regulation Jointly conduction required transboundary environment impact assessment Jointly conduction required transboundary environment impact assessment

studies; studies; Strengthening the trust and cooperation spirit between the two sides in Strengthening the trust and cooperation spirit between the two sides in

water resources management of the sub-basin water resources management of the sub-basin Notifications of new projects in the Central Highlands to the MRCNotifications of new projects in the Central Highlands to the MRC Exchange of related EIA studies of those projectsExchange of related EIA studies of those projects Maintenance of all level of contacts of bilateral channelMaintenance of all level of contacts of bilateral channel Prime Minister’s Instruction on transboundary impact concernsPrime Minister’s Instruction on transboundary impact concerns Re-regulatory reservoir downstream Ialy and suggesting joint ventures for Re-regulatory reservoir downstream Ialy and suggesting joint ventures for

hydropower development on Cambodia sidehydropower development on Cambodia side Target of increase awareness, trust and cooperation spirit between the two Target of increase awareness, trust and cooperation spirit between the two

sides in water resources management of the sub-basin sides in water resources management of the sub-basin



Needed CapacitiesNeeded Capacities MRC (complete set of rules/procedures/techncial guideleines relating MRC (complete set of rules/procedures/techncial guideleines relating

to transboundary impacts)to transboundary impacts) Regional sub-committee for transboundary impacts assessmentRegional sub-committee for transboundary impacts assessment Adequate and timely information to Joint Commission and annual Adequate and timely information to Joint Commission and annual

border cooperation meetings at Government levelborder cooperation meetings at Government level Frequent meetings at working level (Joing Working Group on Sesan Frequent meetings at working level (Joing Working Group on Sesan

Flow Regulation)Flow Regulation) Ad-hoc joint team, group (investagation, modeling etc…) and Ad-hoc joint team, group (investagation, modeling etc…) and

workshops, consultations, meetings etc…workshops, consultations, meetings etc… Techncial cooepration: Joint monitoring, studies and shared Techncial cooepration: Joint monitoring, studies and shared

database/analytical toolsdatabase/analytical tools Awareness increase efforts, dissemination to the root levelAwareness increase efforts, dissemination to the root level



Lessons LearntLessons Learnt Awareness and trust for border people and local authoritiesAwareness and trust for border people and local authorities Awareness and commitment of involved line agenciesAwareness and commitment of involved line agencies Combination of regional mechanism and Combination of regional mechanism and bilateral channels bilateral channels with proper with proper

public involvementpublic involvement Commitments and cooperation spirit affirmed at top level Commitments and cooperation spirit affirmed at top level Improved monitoring and analytical toolsImproved monitoring and analytical tools Data and information sharing and exchange, and notification Data and information sharing and exchange, and notification

requirementsrequirements Mitigation planMitigation plan Sub-basin water resources management planning according to IWRM Sub-basin water resources management planning according to IWRM

principlesprinciples Joint investment for mutual benefitJoint investment for mutual benefit ……



ApplicabilityApplicability Basin-wide set-up (rules/procedures)Basin-wide set-up (rules/procedures) Bilateral channel (Guidelines and relevant agreements)Bilateral channel (Guidelines and relevant agreements) Regulation for system operationRegulation for system operation Techncial support (monitoring and tools)Techncial support (monitoring and tools) Capacity (technical and legal)Capacity (technical and legal) Awareness increase and trust buildingAwareness increase and trust building

Mekong River Commission and its first test in a transboundary impact incident - Ialy Dam

Documents

Transcript of Mekong River Commission and its first test in a transboundary impact incident - Ialy Dam