Indigenous Peoples

Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project
Lao PDR

The Project aims to support the Lao PDR's key national development objectives through the power sector. Due to the considerable number of ethnic minority populations in the project areas, the Project pays special attention to ethnic minority issues.

The Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy [ PDF ] states that impacts on ethnic minorities are expected to be significant, which is why ethnic minority development plans have been prepared as part of the Social Development Plan (SDP). The SDP addresses the social safeguards and other cross-cutting social issues. It includes

• a public health action plan (PHAP)
• the Nakai Plateau resettlement plan, and ethnic minority development plan (EMDP)
• downstream areas resettlement and livelihood restoration and EMDP
• project land resettlement plan and EMDP

The Summary Environmental And Social Impact Assessment, Environmental Management And Resettlement Plans And Monitoring [ PDF ] indicates that the overall aims of the social safeguard planning documents are to:

• address the important issue of culturally-sensitive development for project affected people
• significantly improve the livelihoods and standard of living of project-affected people from ethnic minorities
• provide effective safeguard against adverse impacts
• ensure that the affected people have been consulted fully and have participated in the decisions that affect them

Location:

Major project impact areas include the Nam Theun River upstream and downstream of the dam, the Nakai Plateau, a section of the Nam Phit River downstream of the regulating pond, and the lower Xe Bang Fai. (Project Map 1, Project Map 2) [ PDF ]

Learn more about the project:

• Major Risks and Mitigation Measures [ PDF: 2,863kb | 115 pages ]
• Report and Recommendation of the President [ PDF: 2,863kb | 115 pages ]
• Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project Website