NGO letter sent to World Bank Executive Directors raises concerns about Nam Theun 2 project's economic, social and environmental viability

3 February 2004

The letter includes the findings of an NGO fact-finding mission to the project site conducted in November 2003

On January 26, 2004, a letter detailing ongoing problems and concerns with the Nam Theun 2 project, endorsed by over 20 NGOs, was sent to World Bank Executive Directors in light of the Directors' upcoming visit to the project site. The letter highlighted the following issues:

• The lack of consulation and participation of project affected communities
• Environmental risks to the Xe Bang Fai river basin
• Government of Lao PDR's will and capacity to implement safeguard measures and mitigate negative impacts of the project
• Lack of transparency as neither the Power Purchase Agreement or the Concession Agreement has been publicly disclosed
• Flawed project justification

In the letter NGOs demand that prior to taking any decision on the project the World Bank must conduct and open and rigourous analysis of the project's costs and risks.

• NGO letter to World Bank Board of Executive Directors regarding Nam Theun 2 project's economic, social and environmental viability, January 26, 2004 (Acrobat pdf 150 KB)