Reuters – Electricity-starved Cambodia will not develop new hydropower dams on the Mekong River for the next 10 years, a senior energy official said on Wednesday, as it reviews its policy to seek energy from coal, natural gas and solar. The decision means that neighboring Laos, which has opened two new dams on the mainstream Mekong in the past six months, is the only country in the Lower Read More…

The Interpreter – Just over a year ago, I reported on the uncertain future of the Khon Pi rapids, located near the Thai town of Chiang Khong and lying in the riverbed between Thailand and Laos. At issue was the desire of a Chinese company to blast the rapids and thus open the course of the Mekong for commercial navigation between Southern Yunnan province and the former Lao royal capital of Read More…

The Phnom Penh Post – The Ministries of Environment, Education, Youth and Sport, and the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) have collaborated to implement an environmental care project called Project “R” in Siem Reap province. The project aims to improve the environment and promote plastic reduction by providing 40,000 refillable water bottles for junior high and high school Read More…

NPR – Some 60 million people rely on Southeast Asia's Mekong River for their sustenance. But the Mekong is under threat. While China is building dams that sharply reduce the water flow and sediment downstream, other countries along the river share some of the blame. Cambodia, for instance, is experiencing a building boom that is transforming its capital, Phnom Penh. Sitting at the Read More…

Nikkei – In a nod to green diplomacy, Vietnam is raising the geopolitical stakes over the Mekong River, Southeast Asia's largest body of water, which has dropped to record lows due to a severe drought and construction of large dams. Hanoi has signaled its intent to raise the issue this year as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. By putting the Mekong, which is shared Read More…