9. Case Study: Experience Sharing in Laos

Laos, officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is a country rich in hydropower resource potential, and the Laotian government is actively seeking to develop the hydropower industry with the goal of becoming the “Battery of Southeast Asia.” The regulatory and technical capacities of environmental management of the hydropower sector in the Lao PDR are relatively weak but are steadily improving due to capacity building through national and international institutions. China has a rich history of experience and lessons learned over almost 40 years in the development and environmental management of hydropower that can be shared to facilitate sustainable hydropower development in the Lao PDR. The objective of sharing experiences and lessons in the Lancang River along with international best practices with the Lao PDR is to increase the level of knowledge and skills of the hydropower and regulatory agencies regarding environmental impacts and mitigation measures for hydropower development.