| Asia
Cambodia’s top representative to the Mekong River Commission has also called for the region to improve its forecasting of worsening flood and drought, as well as the advanced warnings to the millions of riverine residents directly harmed by them. Thor Chetha, the current Chair of the MRC Council, issued his call during a visit to the MRC Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre at the end of 2023. Chetha praised the Centre, MRC and its four Member Countries – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and VietNam – for the substantial progress in monitoring, forecasting and communicating about Southeast Asia’s most important river, yet urged even greater “collective efforts” to mitigate the flood and drought impact. Chetha’s own compatriots have been hit hard, as Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake has dramatically shrunk in recent years due to low Mekong flows. With such impact in mind, he advocated for more timely, accurate information, delivered via advanced technologies and innovation; greater access to this early information for the most vulnerable residents; sharper focus on flood management and protection measures, not just forecasting, especially in residential and economic areas; and tighter cooperation with upstream countries. “The change in hydrological conditions, flood
and drought require our focused attention, closer monitoring and stronger action, with technological innovation and more linkages between the MRC Secretariat and Member Countries,” said Chetha, who’s also Chair of Cambodia’s National Mekong Committee and the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology. “This centre’s operational capability should also be further strengthened, in the areas of its expertise and technological innovation.” Chetha’s words were warmly received by the CEO of the MRC Secretariat, Dr Anoulak Kittikhoun who described the five areas of progress for the organisation and its members. Information sharing is at the heart of much of it – from the hydrological data that upstream neighbour China now provides to downstream riparians regarding its dry season water release and withholding, to the increased sharing of operational data by various hydropower projects. “The MRC will continue to pursue our core principles of knowledge sharing, technological innovation and regional cooperation,” Kittikhoun told Chetha. “That’s the only way we can tackle the challenges ahead.”
Central Asian hydro
Meanwhile over in Central Asia, the Eurasian Development Bank recently suggested that the capacity of hydroelectric power plants could surge by 8900MW due to modernisation and new construction by 2035. Currently over 80 hydroelectric power plants with a total installed capacity of around 14,000MW operate in the region - one of the few globally where hydropower potential remains underdeveloped, with less than 25% being harnessed. Although the region is bracing itself for a prolonged
water scarcity crisis between 2028-9, with an estimated annual deficit of 5-12km3
, the Eurasian
Development Bank is keen to highlight the crucial role hydropower plays in the region, not only as a source of electricity but also in regulating river runoff for irrigation purposes. Acknowledging the imminent challenges, the region is committed to attracting investments for the multipurpose use of water resources, focusing on
the development of hydroelectric power and irrigation systems.
Highlighting the dual benefits of mitigating climate change impact and ensuring economic and social stability, plans have been outlined for the construction of new hydropower plants and the modernisation of existing ones. Notable projects include the 1860MW Kambaratinskaya hydropower plant-1 in the Kyrgyz Republic and the 3600MW Rogunskaya project in Tajikistan. As a regional development bank, EDB is poised to invest over US$400 million in the water and energy complex of Central Asia over the next three years. In 2023, EDB initiated funding for the 100MW Kulanak hydropower plant in the Kyrgyz Republic and is actively engaged in negotiations for financing other significant projects, including Kambaratinskaya and Rogunskaya.
Nepalese foundations British International Investment (BII), the UK’s
development finance institution, is helping to bring reliable and sustainable power to support Nepal’s economic transformation. Hydropower is the country’s primary source of electricity and that’s why BII says in 2019 it committed almost US$22 million to support the construction of the landmark hydroelectric plant called Upper-Trishuli-1. It was BII’s first project finance investment in the country, with the aim of supporting Nepal’s hydropower development, and the project recently reached an important milestone when the foundation stone was laid at a ceremony during September 2023. BII’s Nepal Country Representative, Rabi Rayamajhi, said: “We were really pleased to witness the impressive progress that has already been made in the construction. Once complete, this plant will play a significant role in bringing much-needed, reliable and sustainable power across the country.” Expected to increase the country’s installed power capacity by ten per cent once completed, the project will provide a large proportion of its annual output during the dry season, when it is most needed, and reduce reliance on imports and improve energy security. The project aims to create a model for future private
sector investment in the hydropower sector, as well as creating a benchmark for sustainable development of the sector in Nepal, especially through the inclusion of climate resilience measures. The full project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2026 and will generate 216MW of power.
Above: Upper-Trishuli-1 project staff with representatives from key lenders, including British International Investment (BII)
References
https://chinawaterrisk.org/ resources/analysis-reviews/ no-river-no-power-are-we-energy- secure-when-rivers-run-dry/
www.reuters.com/business/ energy/china-india-lead-asias- biggest-hydropower-crunch- decades-2023-09-21
www.mrcmekong.org www.waterpowermagazine.com | February 2024 | 21
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