Laos plans to build a new 684 MW hydropower plant on the Mekong river. The Sanakham dam project willbe built by DatangSanakham Hydropower, an affiliate of Chinese state-owned power producer Datang International Power, at an estimated cost of $2.1 billion. Laos has submitted plans to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which will give an advisory opinion. MRC members including Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam will assess the project and review any cross-border impact. The consultation process is expected to take six months, while construction work on the project may start by end-2020. The project is expected to be commissioned in 2028.
