Mekong Forum on Water, Energy and Food. 2012. Presentation from Session 9: Mekong Experiences with Sustainable Hydropower Development

1. Theun-Hinboun Power Company
Social and Environment Division
(SED)
Surapha Viravong
Social and Environment Division

2. Shareholders
• EDL-Gen 60%
• Statkraft 20%
• GMS 20%
Existing Dam (THPP)
• Installed Capacity 220 MW
• Construction: 1994
• Operation: 1998
Expansion Project (THXP)
• Installed Capacity: 280 MW
• Construction: 2008
• Operation: Late 2012
Total capacity: 500 MW

3. THPC- Social and Environment Program
• THXP-Social & Environment Mitigation Program- The impact assessment,
action and management plans were prepared in accordance with Lao national
laws and international standards defined by the ADB and other banks
• In upstream areas- The Construction of dam and reservoir on Nam Gnouang
river- moved 12 villages along NG valley to 4 resettlement sites
• In downstream of powerhouse- the water discharge from powerhouse add to
Nam Hai & Hinboun river in downstream- relocate 23 villages to 8 relocation
sites
• THPC obligations- to ensure that project affected people will have better living
standards and increase long-term income. Also people living near the project
benefit from its development.
• SED programs
1. Resettlement and Relocation Infrastructure Development (*public involvement
in moving process)
2. Livelihood Improvement Program
3. Community Development Program
4. Compensation
5. Health and Education Program
6. Environment Management and Monitoring Program
SED with 200 staff (5 departments) are working to help villagers meet income
targets and is also dedicated to protecting the environment and improving
forest areas.

4. Project Infrastructure Map NG reservoir
Headpond Resettlement
Around reservoir
Relocation in
Downstream

6. Resettlement and Livelihood Development
 Moved12 villages along NG river valley to 4 resettlement sites in Bolikhamxay
 CA-Entitlement policy:
1. Compensation of loss (land, fix asset, trees and crops)
2. Provide infrastructure development in new villages
• New house with garden plot (depending on family size and split family)
• Access road to market and agriculture land, electricity, water supply,
community building (school, health center, temple, village hall)
3. Livelihood development- provide agriculture land, supplementary irrigation,
livelihood support until achieve income
4. Special support for vulnerable families
5. Community Development-
6. Improved health and education services
Resettlement Village

7. Relocation and Livelihood Improvement
 Relocate 23 villages in downstream to 8 relocation sites in flood safe areas
CA-Entitlement policy:
1. Compensation of fix asset and trees (villager build and project support building
and materials cost)
2. Provide infrastructure development: Access road to market and agriculture
land, electricity, water supply, community building (school, health center,
temple, village hall)
3. Livelihood improvement- improve production system (dry season irrigation and
expanding irrigated rice filed areas), livelihood support until achieve income.
4. Special support for vulnerable families
5. Community Development
6. Improved health and education services

8. Infrastructure development
Resettlement Village Relocation Village

9. Livelihood Development in
Resettlement villages
Support during transition- provided 1 yr free rice, 6
months food support, and 3 yrs free medical care for
resettled villagers
Livelihood support program
 Livelihood program and support policy orientation
 Support set up household garden, rice barn, animal
pen (provide materials & labor cost and villager build)
 Agriculture land allocation (rice field and garden land)
 Provide supplementary irrigation
 Provide agriculture materials (tools, seeding,
fertilizer) and Food/cash for work for livelihood
participation during transition then will be gradually
arrange under revolving fund and village credit
schemes)
 Support on livestock and animal health improvement
 Support fishery management in reservoir areas
 Monitoring food production and other alternative
income generation to assess income target

10. Livelihood Improvement in Relocation
• Promote and support wet and dry rice and crop cultivation in downstream
(rice seed, fertilizer, fuel and electricity cost in few year then will reduce gradually and put
under revolving fund and village credit scheme) technical assistance
• Develop and expanding wet and dry season rice field using community
land
• Support irrigation system improvement and management (replacement of
diesel headwork pumps, provide training and monitor the irrigation user
group management and maintenance)
• Support set up household garden, households and community fishpond
• Support alternative income generation (weaving, cash crops production)
• Support on livestock and animal health improvement
• Monitoring food production and alternative income generation to assess
income target

11. Existing Irrigation System in Downstream Irrigation
Access to agriculture land
downstream of powerhouse Improvement
Irrigation
Headwork
 Built irrigation system for 250 ha for PMN
 Expanding dry season rice field and land
allocation for villagers
 Improve soil fertility to increase yield
 Cash crop land allocation

12. * Income generation Activities
• Promote and support cash crop and livestock
production through revolving fund and model
household
• Promote and support women weaving and
handicraft group and provide training in
resettlement and relocation villages to generate
income
 Support revolving fund and village credit scheme to
income generation activities

13. 3. Community Development and Strengthening
• Village Development Committee (VDC) set up and provide training on
community planning and management
• Consultation and encourage villagers to participate in livelihood and
community development activities
• Set up water supply and irrigation water user group (WUG). Villagers
received a series of training on WUG operation and management
• Villagers participate in land use planning
• In process establish Village Saving-Credit and Revolving fund to support
income generation and livelihood income target

14. *Public Involvement process
 Consultation with affected villagers on moving
plan in coordination with government and local
authorities
 Affected villagers aware and understand project
entitlement policy
 Consultation with villagers on new village
development- house and community buildings’
design, house plot selection
 Consultation on village ritual ceremony, cemetery
ceremony, selection of good day in building house,
building new cemetery and temple ceremony
 Support transportation of villagers and
communities’ belonging - old house materials and
animal, old temple materials

15. Moving from old to new village

16. 4. Health Improvement Program
 Constructed health centre and provide clinical
services at resettlement and relocation villages
 Provide 3 years medical care and health check for
villagers to improve health
 Support integrated health outreach in project areas
and establish village health committee and
monitoring
 Provide capacity building for health district staff
 Health monitoring- Health data survey, analysis
and response

17. 4. Community Education
Program
 Constructed schools and promote library (room
to read) in resettlement and relocation villages
 Enrichment Informal Education activities to
children
 Formal Education services improvement in
project areas-(1) teacher training, (2) curriculum
improvement, (3) support school equipment and
materials, (4) adult education
 Increase accountability of GoL staff- facilitate
involvement of staff in planning and monitoring
 Community Risk Education (1) Improve Village
level committee functions (2) Life skills classes
(3) Campaign to educate villagers about Human
Trafficking

18. Environment Monitoring and Management
Program
• To comply with CA-Environment Action Plan
and environmental regulations
• To protect the environment and improving forest
areas
Programs
• Construction Environment Impact Monitoring
• Watershed management (Reforestation, Debris
collection, Protection Forest)
• Water quality monitoring
• Waste management and awareness
• Erosion and land use planning
• Fishery Management

19. Reforestation and Watershed Management
Nam Pone
Block -II Block -III Block -VI Block -VII
Nam Kamang
Nam Gnouang South PFA
Block -X
Block -I Block -IV Block -V Block -VIII Keosenkham
Ban Nadi Reservoir
New Thasala
THXP DAM
Block -IX
Total PF Area =50 364ha
Legend Non-Forest Area =24 874ha
Current Forest
Forest Cover (2010)=9,900 ha
Non-Forest
Reforestation Area =12,900 ha
Reforestation Potential
Reservoir Area =10 500ha
NG Reservoir
Check Point Land Use Classification of Nam Gnouang South Protection Forest

20. Environment Monitoring Activities Photos
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21. Environment Awareness
World Environment Day, 5 June 2010

22. Sustainable Hydropower Development link to livelihood
1. Social-Environment implementation during moving and restoration-
improvement
– Focus on building infrastructure for community and to meet COD timeline.
– community establishment and development to ensure the sustainable use and
management of infrastructure that company built for (access road,
community buildings, irrigation). Company provide training on the community
management e.g irrigation water user group management
– Livelihood restoration and improvement of villagers: endure food security and
long-term income generation. (Monitoring and food production (rice, crops,
livestock, alternative income) . Continue support on vulnerable family in
cooperation with local government
– Health and education improvement monitoring (e.g Implement nutrition and
WASH program)
2. Involve key local government counterparts in planning process (Gol and villages
consultations) e.g site development plan, compensation policy, livelihood and
social development and support policy
3. Ensure affected people understand entitlement (e.g livelihood policy and activities)
4. Villager and government role and responsibilities
• Villager participation is the key of income target achievement:
• Government’s responsibilities in long-term on on social development and
environment protection. E.g land use planning, envt regulation enforcement

23. Thank you