Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has told the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to assess impact of hydropower damming in the mainstream Mekong River on residents in the downstream.
The ministry said at a meeting on Tuesday with the Deputy PM that it has invited representatives of Laos and Cambodia, and international organizations and experts to jointly prepare a study on impact of hydropower projects.
Le Duc Trung, office manager of the Vietnam National Mekong Committee, said the research would be conducted to assist the governments of Vietnam and the two neighboring countries in better using water resources of the river.
The study will comprise of a comprehensive database about geological conditions of the river and the Mekong Delta region, with a focus on water currents, biodiversity, water quality, water transport and socio-economic issues.
The study is expected to create a consensus about the evaluation results of the hydropower projects on the mainstream Mekong River and contain measures to minimize the impact of those projects.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang said the study would enable Vietnam to better deal with challenges for the Mekong Delta region, especially water resource security and climate change.
The study is scheduled for completion in December this year.
