HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEKONG BASIN

Transcription

1 HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEKONG BASIN Perspective of a Canadian Private Environmental Consulting Company Grant Bruce, M.Sc., PChem 3rd Annual Symposium of NSERC HydroNet Montréal, Quebec April 9th 11th, 2013

2 Outline of Presentation Hatfield Consultants Partnership Hatfield s international project work in Mekong Hydropower and other development Issues Key implications on capture fisheries Future concerns Picture of the Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap, taken from the International Space Station on January 9,

3 About Hatfield Hatfield has provided environmental services to industry and government for over 39 years 2200 projects completed in over 40 countries 75 professional staff in offices in Canada, Indonesia, Africa and business partners in Chile and Thailand Recipient of awards for: Corporate Social Responsibility International Development Services Linear Development Services ISO 9001:2000 certified 3

4 Hatfield Offices Headquarters: Vancouver Fort McMurray Calgary Rossland Vientiane Phnom Penh (planned 2013) Bogor/Jakarta Gaborone Santiago HEAD OFFICE OFFICE BUSINESS PARTNER 4

5 The Mekong River Basin 5

6 The Mekong River Basin (Cont d.) 6

7 One river with diversity of interests and potentials 7

8 Importance of Fish in Mekong 1,300 fish species Mt/ year of fish production 17% of global inland fish production Worth US$ 2 billion 27-28% of animal protein in diets of rural people in Mekong 8

9 Tonle Sap Great Lake Home of Angkor Complex A world heritage site An estimated 4.5 million inhabitants Many people derive at least part of their subsistence needs or income from the wetland resources. Source Picture Courtesy: Sacred Sites,

10 1/1/2001 3/1/2001 5/1/2001 7/1/2001 9/1/ /1/2001 1/1/2002 3/1/2002 5/1/2002 7/1/2002 9/1/ /1/2002 Lake Depth (m) Tonle Sap Great Lake (Cont d.) A unique flood pulse System. Dry Season Area: 2,500-3,000 km 2 Wet Season Area:10,000-16,000 km 2 An ecologically important breeding ground and habitat vital to many fish species that migrate to Mekong Date Hatfield/ CSA,

11 Hydropower Development in Mekong 11

12 Hydropower Development in Mekong (Cont d.) MRC,

13 Km 2 of watershed upstream of the dam 13 Hydropower Development in Mekong (Cont d.) 100,000 Pak Beng Luang Prabang 200,000 Xayaburi Pak Lay Sanakham Pak Chom 300, ,000 Ban Koum Latsua 500,000 Don Sahong Stung Treng 600,000 Sambor 700,000 Future: No longer free flow in most parts of the LMB. 13

14 Effects of Dams Alter but do not deplete water flows remove seasonal variability and floodplain interactions Alter and deplete sediment and nutrient flows fisheries productivity nutrition and poverty. Fragment the river barriers to migration 14

15 affects Effects of Dams on Fish Production HYDROLOGY Water level (higher flood = more fish) Flood duration (longer flood = more fish) Flood timing (early flood = more fish) FLOODPLAIN ENVIRONMENT Flooded vegetation (less trees = less fish) Built structures (more structures = less fish) EXOTIC SPECIES drives influences MIGRATIONS Fish stocks allows condition Access to feeding and breeding areas Access to refuges (ponds, sanctuaries, deep pools) (better protection = more fish) FISHING FISH CATCH yields Number of fishers Impossible to control Fishing intensity Difficult to assess IFReDI,

16 Effects of Dams on Fish Production (Cont d.) Dam development will reduce the downstream sediment concentration, but will also minimize the flood pulse, alter water quality and block fish migrations. Fishery productivity resulting from these four drivers will be affected in multiple ways that cannot be related to sediments only. Sediment Habitat change Biodiversity Dam Flood pulse Water quality Fish productivity Migrations Worldfish Center,

17 17 Effects of Dams on Fish Production (Cont d.) Dams downstream are biologically more damaging than those upstream. Worldfish Center,

18 Effects of Dams on Fish Production (Cont d.) IFReDI,

19 Effects of Dams on Fish Production (Cont d.) What matters most for fish productivity is not sediments but nutrients. Dissolved nutrient concentration is generally low and nutrients are mostly adsorbed on sediments, which facilitates their transport. Worldfish Center,

20 Effects of Dams on Fish Production (Cont d.) Sediment Nutrients Worldfish Center,

21 35,000 Dai Catch (tonnes) Sediment Inflow (tons) Sediment and Tonle Sap Fish Production Yearly Catches of the Dai fishery (tons) and Tonle Sap Sediment Input (tons) 9,000,000 30,000 Sediment Inflow (tonnes) 8,000,000 Dai Catch (tons) 25,000 20,000 15,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 10,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 5,000 1,000, Fishing season Source: Koponen et al

22 Dai Catch Data (tn) Sediment and Tonle Sap Fish Production (Cont d.) Dai Catch as a function of Tonle Sap Sediment Input, between ,000 30,000 y = x R² = ,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5, ,000,000 4,000,000 6,000,000 8,000,000 10,000,000 Mekong Sediment Influx (tn) Source: Koponen et al % decline in [Tonle Sap] total fish biomass production if Mekong sediment input is reduced by 80% (Sarkkula and Koponen 2010 DMS Final report) 22

23 Value of Mekong s Fisheries Economic value of Mekong freshwater fish US$ billion at first sale US$ billion on retail markets Hortle, 2009 Contribution of freshwater fish to protein inputs in people s diet Cambodia: 50% (81%) Lao PDR: 38% Thailand: 16% Vietnam: 13 % FAO,

24 Kg of freshwater fish per person and per year Value of Mekong s Fisheries (Cont d.) 25 Freshwater fish consumption (FAO, year) Worldfish Center,

25 Amount Amount Value of Mekong s Fisheries (Cont d.) Cambodia 700kt 600kt 210kt 30% Vietnam 500kt 400kt loss <5% of protein supply 300kt 200kt 100kt BUT impact on coastal resources not quantified 0 Current Lao PDR With dams Replacement Cost? Thailand 250kt 200kt 30kt 12% loss <5% of protein supply 150kt 100kt 50kt Cambodia 35% of LMB fish production 0 Current With dams Laos 5% of LMB fish production Pig meat Freshwater fish Chicken meat Cattle meat Thailand Vietnam 30% of LMB fish production 30% of LMB fish production Worldfish Center,

26 Building Capacity for Sustainable Hydropower in Mekong Region Hatfield staff are actively engaged in working with both hydro developers and regulatory authorities in Mekong Region to apply relevant sustainable hydropower decision support frameworks including: IFC Performance Standards (+World Bank Safeguard Policies). Equator Principles. World Commission on Dams framework for decision-making for the planning, design, appraisal, construction, operation, monitoring and decommissioning of dams. Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) 26

27 Trialing Workshop (Trialing + Training) Provide participants lead time for reading the preliminary assessment report and Section 1 of HSAP; Present data/information collected and analyzed during the desk-study and field work; and Conduct group discussions. Consultation, trialing and knowledge transfer. Exchange visit of Chinese hydropower developers. 27

28 Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol November 2010 Background Assessment Tools for Project Life Cycle Stages: Early Stage Preparation Implementation Operation Significant Project Development Decision Points: Commence hydropower project preparation Award of construction contracts Project commissioning 28

29 Applying Broader and Inter-related Criteria Protocol Topics INTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVE Demonstrated need & strategic fit Communications & consultation Governance Integrated project management Environmental & social issues management ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE Environmental impact assessment Downstream flows Erosion & sedimentation Water quality Biodiversity & invasive species Waste, noise & air quality SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE Social impact assessment Project affected communities & livelihoods Resettlement Indigenous peoples Cultural heritage Public health Labour & working conditions TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE Siting & design Hydrological resource Reservoir planning, filling and management Infrastructure safety Asset reliability & efficiency ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE Economic viability Financial viability Project benefits Procurement Scoring Criteria COMMON Assessment Management Stakeholder engagement CRITERIA Stakeholder support Conformance and compliance Outcomes Cross-cutting Issues CROSS-CUTTING Human rights Climate change Transboundary issues CONSIDERATIONS, Transparency Gender Integrated water resource management 29

30 Lessons Learned for the Mekong River Not all technologies are ready to be replicated in the Mekong (sediment friendly and fish friendly???). Assessing impacts and developing mitigation measures for proposed hydropower development is extremely complex. >1,500 fish species + livelihoods of millions of people + economic and social considerations. Baseline data are lacking, especially use of fisheries resources (TEK), fish migrations, fish habitats, compensation flow requirements, reservoir fish production, etc. International best practices must be followed. Time is of the essence. 30

31 Thank you! Appreciate your comments. 31

32 For more information, contact: Grant Bruce President and Partner Hatfield Consultants Partnership Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 0A3 32

33 Notes Slide 1 - Overview of Hydropower Development in Lower Mekong Basin 33

34 Notes Slide 1 - Overview of Hydropower Development in Lower Mekong Basin 34

35 References Koponen et al Productivity Modeling Report 4593,page 56. Koponen et al Productivity Modeling Report. Hortle, FAO, Mekong River Commission State of the Basin Report. Sacred Sites Angokor Water. Retrieved from Notes Only: Mekong Rover Commission Secretariat (MRCS) Mekong Basin Planning: The Story Behind the Basin Development Plan. 35