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
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%
Population density Population increase 100 80 millions 60 40 20 0 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand LMB Viet Nam LMB
Poverty GDP per capita 3000 GDP per capita (USD) 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 1990 1995 1998 2000 0 Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand NE Thailand Viet Nam VN Mekong Delta
Rainfall distribution and seasonal variability of flow
Large volume of water flowing in the river = 475 km 3 /year = 8,000 m 3 /person/year m 3 /person/year 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Mekong Yangtse Nile Rhine
Frequent floods and droughts
Low volume of regulated storage 20 billion m 3 = less than 5% of annual flow m 3 /person = 300 m 3 /person 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Mekong basin USA China
Addressing critical development challenges in the basin improving peoples livelihoods specially the poorest
While maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance of the basin
Mitigating Droughts and Floods
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
Existing flood protection structures
Water withdrawals for irrigation 60 km 3 / year 13 % of annual flow (457 km 3 )
Dry season irrigation Upstream Kratie Around Tonle Sap Delta 350,000 ha 250,000 ha 1,500,000 ha Total 2.10 million ha
Need for improving irrigation efficiency and productivity
Protecting the water quality industry urban development agriculture
Developing inland navigation
Inland ports and maximum vessel sizes
Meeting the increasing energy demand MW 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 potential developed Peak energy demand in GMS 0 Lancang LMB 120000 100000 80000 60000 Hydropower potential 40000 20000 0 2000 2010 2020
Existing hydropower dams (more than 10 MW)
Hydropower dams under construction (more than 10 MW)
Planned hydropower dams (more than 10 MW)
Hydropower dams in LMB (more than 10 MW) existing under construction planned
Hydropower dams in China (more than 10 MW) 2 existing 2 under construction 4 under preparation
Dialogue August 2004 Xiaowan Manwan Dachaosan Jinghong
Storage capacity - annual discharge in billion m 3 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 total storage capacity chinese dams (4) annual discharge upper MB annual discharge Pakse
Maintaining productive fisheries World s s largest inland fishery
Managing the flood pulse in the flood plain
Tonle Sap flood pulse Monthly average water balance in Tonle Sap Lake 6. 25 20 15 10 Precipitation Tributaries Mekong_in Evaporation Mekong_out Volume (km3) 5 0-5 2. 1. -10-15 -20-25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avoiding saline intrusion in the Mekong delta
Development scenarios hydropower (1,000 MW) 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Scenario 1 present situation Scenario 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 irrigated area (million ha) Scenario 3
Basin Development Plan and Integrated Basin Flow Management
Mekong River Commission Origin = Mekong Committee (1957) Cooperation Agreement (5 April 1995) Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand Vietnam Dialogue partners China Myanmar
MRC s mission To promote, support, cooperate and coordinate in the development of the full potential of sustainable benefits to all riparian states
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
MRC Strategic Plan 2006-2010 2010 Meeting the Needs, Keeping the Balance Applying IWRM at basin scale Promoting basin-wide water governance
Goal Supporting member countries for more effective use of the Mekong s water and related resources to alleviate poverty while protecting the environment
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.
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
Vision An economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound Mekong River Basin Triple bottom line
Thank You