<strong>Nam</strong> <strong>Theun</strong> 2 <strong>Trip</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Project</strong> <strong>Update</strong>ENDNOTES1. For more information concerning the Nakai-<strong>Nam</strong> <strong>Theun</strong>National Protected Area, illegal logging <strong>and</strong> mining, seethe Eleventh <strong>Report</strong> of the International Environmental <strong>and</strong>Social Panel of Experts (PoE) for NT2, 23 February 2007,pp. 25-38, available at:http://go.worldbank.org/XO1YWANPH0.2. <strong>Nam</strong> <strong>Theun</strong> 2 Environmental Assessment <strong>and</strong> ManagementPlan (EAMP), March 2005, Chapter 3, p. 107.3. The PoE also raises concerns about the DownstreamProgram budget <strong>and</strong> notes that “over $1 million… will bedevoted to consultants” (PoE 11th <strong>Report</strong>, p. 23).4. Shoemaker, Baird <strong>and</strong> Baird, The People <strong>and</strong> their River: ASurvey of River-Based Livelihoods in the Xe Bang Fai RiverBasin in Central Lao PDR, November 2001, p. xi.5. NTPC says that the plans contain confidential informationregarding household assets. In March, the WorldBank <strong>and</strong> the ADB told IRN that NTPC was asked toremove the household asset information <strong>and</strong> disclose therest. The RAPs have not yet been disclosed.6. There will be downstream impacts in other areas, such ason the <strong>Nam</strong> <strong>Theun</strong> downstream of the dam site wherewater flows will sharply decrease. However, the IRN fieldvisit focused on the Xe Bang Fai area where there is thelargest number of affected people.7. These numbers are based on a survey conducted by independentexperts (Shoemaker, Baird <strong>and</strong> Baird, The People<strong>and</strong> their River, 2001). NTPC asserts that only 75,000people in 221 downstream villages will be affected byNT2, which includes the Khamkeut district downstreamof the <strong>Nam</strong> <strong>Theun</strong>. NTPC’s downstream livelihoodrestoration program targets 75,000 villagers.8. NTPC responses to issues raised here were obtained in ameeting with Olivier Salignat, Social <strong>and</strong> EnvironmentalDeputy Director of NTPC, on March 8, 2007. DetailedXe Bang Fai village notes from IRN’s visit were sent toNTPC in mid-May 2007.9. According to World Bank <strong>and</strong> ADB definitions, involuntaryresettlement includes not only physical relocation, butalso loss of l<strong>and</strong>, assets <strong>and</strong>/or access to natural resources.As such, the Downstream Livelihood <strong>and</strong> AssetRestoration Program is a resettlement action plan <strong>and</strong>should be disclosed in accordance with ADB <strong>and</strong> WorldBank involuntary resettlement <strong>and</strong> information disclosurepolicies.10. It is not clear yet when the first transfers of water fromthe reservoir will be—during reservoir impoundment in2008 or 2009 or once power production commences at theend of 2009. NTPC is developing a reservoir impoundmentstrategy which should address this question.11. The PoE also raises concerns about the DownstreamProgram budget <strong>and</strong> notes that “over $1 million… willbe devoted to consultants” (PoE 11th <strong>Report</strong>, p. 23).12. Shoemaker, Baird <strong>and</strong> Baird, The People <strong>and</strong> their River:A Survey of River-Based Livelihoods in the Xe Bang FaiRiver Basin in Central Lao PDR, November 2001, p. xi.13. See Barney, K. (forthcoming). Power, Progress, <strong>and</strong>Impoverishment: Plantations, Hydropower, EcologicalChange <strong>and</strong> Community Transformation in HinbounDistrict, Lao PDR. Working Paper No 1, York Centrefor Asian Research (YCAR). York University, Toronto<strong>and</strong> draft chapters of <strong>Theun</strong>-Hinboun Expansion <strong>Project</strong>EIA submitted by consultant to THPC <strong>and</strong> available at:http://www.rmruk.com/eia_files/Chapters/Chapters.html.14. NT2 EAMP, 2005, Chapter 3; Lanza, “Review of theWater Quality Assessment (EAMP), Proposed <strong>Nam</strong><strong>Theun</strong> 2 Hydroelectric <strong>Project</strong>,” 2005, <strong>and</strong> Theiss,“Reservoir Fisheries Predictions for the <strong>Nam</strong> <strong>Theun</strong> 2Hydroelectric <strong>Project</strong>”, 2005, available at:http://www.irn.org/programs/mekong/namtheun.php?id=namtheuntech.html.15. NTPC says that the plans contain confidential informationregarding household assets. In March, the WorldBank <strong>and</strong> the ADB told IRN that NTPC was asked toremove the household asset information <strong>and</strong> disclose therest. The RAPs have not yet been disclosed.16. For more details regarding the transitional resettlementprocess, see the IRN NT2 <strong>Trip</strong> <strong>Report</strong> September 2006,available at:http://www.irn.org/programs/mekong/namtheun.html.17. NTPC responses to issues raised in this section wereobtained in a meeting with Michael Beauchamp, NTPCResettlement Manager, on March 5, 2007 <strong>and</strong> in subsequentemail correspondence.18. NTPC says that the GOL overestimated the quality <strong>and</strong>quantity of timber available for resettlement housing, <strong>and</strong>that villagers have been too selective about the type ofwood they want to be used in housing construction.30
International Rivers Network19. According to NTPC, in the first year after resettlement,most households can earn up to $762 from l<strong>and</strong> clearance,fence building, fertilizer application <strong>and</strong> otheractivities associated with preparing the resettlement sites.NTPC says that sometimes small delays occur, but thatthe company tries to pay as quickly as possible.20. The spelling of the village is unclear <strong>and</strong> there was confusionabout whether or not villagers were referring tothe original <strong>Nam</strong> Pan site in the Khemkheut District.21. The logging in these areas is separate from the GoL’ssalvage logging operation which is supposed to clear thereservoir area of valuable timber. Salvage logging will netapproximately US$50-70 million for the GoL.31
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