Laos Orders Hydropower Plants to Boost Dam Safety Ahead of Rainy Season

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The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) has ordered all hydropower projects nationwide to strengthen dam safety measures and emergency preparedness plans ahead of the 2026 rainy season.

According to the notice dated 15 May, the directive requires operators to inspect all structures, spillway gates, electrical systems, backup power, and emergency equipment to ensure full operational readiness under both normal and emergency conditions. 

Operators must also finalize emergency response plans, conduct community drills, and improve warning systems to ensure villages and local authorities in flood-risk areas are informed and prepared.

On water management, operators must keep reservoir levels low before the rainy season and appoint hydrological teams to monitor storm formation and manage reservoir inflows and outflows. During high-water conditions, discharge volume must exceed inflow volume. 

Before opening any spillway gates, operators must obtain written approval from the Department of Energy at least seven days in advance and coordinate with disaster management committees at all levels to notify downstream and upstream communities. 

In an emergency, operators must activate their response plan immediately and report to the department without delay. Senior officials are available for 24-hour coordination.

Operators must also submit daily water data by 9:00 AM, increasing to hourly reporting during high-water situations.

The directive comes amid public frustration over dam operations.

In late September 2025, residents blamed water releases from the Nam Ngum 1 dam for flooding in parts of Vientiane Province and Vientiane Capital. EDL-Gen defended its operations, saying the dam follows strictly government-approved procedures and plays a role in reducing flood risks rather than causing them.

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