Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam must work closer together to make the shift to using more renewable energy. This a vital step in attaining the region’s as well as each country’s sustainable development, said Prof. Đặng Nguyên Anh, Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS).

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The post Renewable energy high priority for Mekong region: scientists first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

A major energy review by Thailand has delayed the launch of a controversial dam on the Mekong. This could lead to further questions about future hydropower projects along the river. The Chinese-backed Pak Beng dam in Laos was supposed to be the third dam under construction on the lower Mekong, out of a total of 11 hydropower projects mapped out. 

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The post Thailand’s Energy Review Delays Launch of Controversial Mekong Dam first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Hydropower in Mekong river might not be climate friendly, says study, seen as significant for India which is considering classifying large hydropower projects as renewable energy projects.

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The post Can hydropower be classified as clean energy? first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Hydropower is commonly considered as a clean energy source to fuel Southeast Asian economic growth. However, a recent study published in Environmental Research Letters finds that hydropower in the Mekong River Basin, largest river in Southeast Asia, might not always be climate friendly.

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The post Greenhouse Gas Emissions Of Hydropower In Mekong River Basin Can Exceed Fossil Fuel Energy Sources first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

In the Pacific Northwest, the conversation about hydroelectric dams is complicated: Dams hamper the natural migration of salmon, yet they are an important source of cheap, renewable energy for the region.

[…]In Southeast Asia, the Mekong River and its tributaries support what is likely the largest inland fishery in the world, worth more than $2 billion annually, that over 60 million people rely on for daily food and livelihoods. Nearly 100 hydropower dams are planned for construction along the tributaries and main stem of the river’s 2,700-mile stretch.

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The post UW project seeks sustainable blueprint for hydropower dams first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Southeast Asian governments are starting to wake up to the vast potential of solar energy, under pressure from civil society groups that insist it is time to get on board with a global revolution in renewable energy.

[…]This global change has lessons for Southeast Asia, especially the countries joined by the Mekong River, the world’s greatest inland fishery and a crucial source of food security. Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam especially are plagued by inefficient national electricity grids dependent on coal and hydropower, delivering high-priced but erratic supply. The Mekong has too many dams for electricity generation and has suffered rapid depletion of nutrient-rich sediment, making a switch from hydropower to solar power an urgent necessity.

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The post Searching for sustainable energy in the Mekong first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Policymakers from the Greater-Mekong Subregion (GMS) met their Korean counterparts in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate in the energy sector amid the increasing need for a stable supply.

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The post Workshop focuses on cross-border cooperation for energy first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

The Greater Mekong Subregion has significant potential to develop renewal energy, but it also faces major challenges. Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam—all members of the Greater Mekong Subregion—are seeking to expand the use of renewable energy.

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The post Renewable Energy in the Greater Mekong Subregion: A Status Report first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Việt Nam imported 7.9 million tonnes of coal worth US$810 million in the first seven months of the year. The imports represented a 5.1 per cent decrease in terms of quantity and a 49.2 per cent increase in term of value compared the same period last year. …

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The post Coal imports reduce in 7 months y-o-y first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Việt Nam must reach crude oil stock levels that are equal to no less than 90 days of net imports following International Energy Agency (IEA)’s criteria by the year 2020.

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The post Việt Nam announces crude oil reserves plan first appeared on Open Development Mekong.