Key features and development challenges for the Mekong River Basin

Transcription

1 Key features and development challenges for the Mekong River Basin Olivier Cogels Chief Executive Officer Mekong River Commission Secretariat Danish Water Forum 1 March 2007

2 World s s 10 th longest river (4,900 km) Contribution to flow: China 16% Myanmar 2% Cambodia 18% Lao PDR 35% Thailand 18% Viet Nam 11%

3 Population density Population increase millions Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand LMB Viet Nam LMB

4 Poverty GDP per capita 3000 GDP per capita (USD) Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand NE Thailand Viet Nam VN Mekong Delta

5 Rainfall distribution and seasonal variability of flow

6 Large volume of water flowing in the river = 475 km 3 /year = 8,000 m 3 /person/year m 3 /person/year Mekong Yangtse Nile Rhine

7 Frequent floods and droughts

8 Low volume of regulated storage 20 billion m 3 = less than 5% of annual flow m 3 /person = 300 m 3 /person Mekong basin USA China

9 Addressing critical development challenges in the basin improving peoples livelihoods specially the poorest

10 While maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance of the basin

11 Mitigating Droughts and Floods

12 Flooding 1 to 4 million ha flooded in the floodplains Environmental significance of flooding (wetlands, fisheries) 2000 flood 800 people died $400 million damage 2002 flood and drought impact on food security and health climate change

13 Existing flood protection structures

14 Water withdrawals for irrigation 60 km 3 / year 13 % of annual flow (457 km 3 )

15 Dry season irrigation Upstream Kratie Around Tonle Sap Delta 350,000 ha 250,000 ha 1,500,000 ha Total 2.10 million ha

16 Need for improving irrigation efficiency and productivity

17 Protecting the water quality industry urban development agriculture

18 Developing inland navigation

19 Inland ports and maximum vessel sizes

20 Meeting the increasing energy demand MW potential developed Peak energy demand in GMS 0 Lancang LMB Hydropower potential

21 Existing hydropower dams (more than 10 MW)

22 Hydropower dams under construction (more than 10 MW)

23 Planned hydropower dams (more than 10 MW)

24 Hydropower dams in LMB (more than 10 MW) existing under construction planned

25 Hydropower dams in China (more than 10 MW) 2 existing 2 under construction 4 under preparation

26 Dialogue August 2004 Xiaowan Manwan Dachaosan Jinghong

27 Storage capacity - annual discharge in billion m total storage capacity chinese dams (4) annual discharge upper MB annual discharge Pakse

28 Maintaining productive fisheries World s s largest inland fishery

29 Managing the flood pulse in the flood plain

30 Tonle Sap flood pulse Monthly average water balance in Tonle Sap Lake Precipitation Tributaries Mekong_in Evaporation Mekong_out Volume (km3) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

31 Avoiding saline intrusion in the Mekong delta

32 Development scenarios hydropower (1,000 MW) Scenario 1 present situation Scenario irrigated area (million ha) Scenario 3

33 Basin Development Plan and Integrated Basin Flow Management

34 Mekong River Commission Origin = Mekong Committee (1957) Cooperation Agreement (5 April 1995) Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand Vietnam Dialogue partners China Myanmar

35 MRC s mission To promote, support, cooperate and coordinate in the development of the full potential of sustainable benefits to all riparian states

36 Balanced two-track track approach using river s s potential for economic growth and poverty alleviation through irrigation HPD, navigation, etc.. protect the environment and the livelihoods of poor people who depend on the river

37 MRC Strategic Plan Meeting the Needs, Keeping the Balance Applying IWRM at basin scale Promoting basin-wide water governance

38 Goal Supporting member countries for more effective use of the Mekong s water and related resources to alleviate poverty while protecting the environment

39 To meet the challenges increased food security through efficient land and water development and irrigation; appropriate development of the basin s hydropower potential to help meeting the increasing need for energy; maintaining productive fisheries and enhanced aquaculture of indigenous species; more active and efficient river transportation through increased freedom of navigation; avoiding, minimizing and mitigating people s suffering and economic losses due to floods and droughts; protecting the environment,, natural resources, aquatic life and ecological balance of the basin.

40 How Joint planning of basin development - Basin Development Plan (BDP) Supporting member countries for sustainable and coordinated development/investment initiatives Enhancing international cooperation mechanisms and increase coopeartion with upstream countries Developing and sharing a common knowledge base Strenghtening environmental monitoring Increasing the capacity to address transboundary issues Increasing public participation and cooperation with civil society Developing partnership with development partners

41 Vision An economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound Mekong River Basin Triple bottom line

42 Thank You