PRESS RELEASE BY THE
EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA IN VIENTIANE
Don Sahong Hydropower Project - A Project undertaken with the Utmost Care in Mind for Nature, Environment and the Affected People
His Excellency Mohd Aini Atan, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Lao PDR undertook a site visit to Don Sahong Hydropower Project (DSHP) in Champasak Province on 5 July 2017 at the invitation of Don Sahong Hydropower Company to witness the progress of the construction work at the site. He was accompanied by Mr. Johan Arief Jaafar, Second Secretary, Embassy of Malaysia to the Lao PDR.
2. His Excellency Mohd Aini Atan noted that the construction of the DSHP is progressing well and currently at 31 percent completion and should be completed by December 2019. Located near the Lao PDR and Cambodia border, the DSHP is expected to generate 260MW of electricity upon completion.
3. Mr. Sim See Sheng, Chief Resident Engineer (CRE), Mr. Mohandass Sanku Pillai, Senior Project Executive and Mr. Kongher Herjalearn, Environmental and Social Program Manager conducted a briefing at the site office in Champasak province to show the layout and features of the DSHP.
4. As the first Malaysian Official to visit the site, His Excellency Mohd Aini was very pleased with the progress of work performed by the Malaysian company that will certainly contribute positively to the economic growth of the Lao PDR especially in the field of energy. To some extent, it will contribute towards elevating the Lao PDR out from the Least Developed Country status by the year 2020.
5. Contrary to the worry of environmentalists that the construction of the DSHP may adversely affect the presence of fish in the surrounding Mekong River, Mr. Kongher Herjalearn, Environmental and Social Program Manager of the Company shared with His Excellency Mohd Aini that, in fact, the volume of fish catch by local fishermen surprisingly exceeded the volume before the construction of the DSHP mainly due to several measures undertaken to improve fish passages in selected channels along the river. All other concerns related to nature and environment have also been addressed and continually monitor by the Company.
6. In addition, His Excellency Mohd Aini also visited the relocation site for 14 local families affected by the construction of the hydropower project. His Excellency Mohd Aini was pleased that Don Sahong Hydropower Company has taken great care to ensure that the need of the 14 affected families were taken care off by providing comfortable and quality houses to the affected families. These including the construction of a new Secondary School near to the new housing area that has benefited not only children from the 14 affected families, but also students from the surrounding area. At present, a total of 114 students are attending the school there.
Embassy of Malaysia in Vientiane, the Lao PDR
9 July 2017