WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- Revenue from a hydroelectric dam in Laos is making its way to the development of social and federal programs in the country, international groups say.
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank announced in a joint report that the first $600,000 generated from the Nam Theun 2 plant in Laos is funding education, health, rural roads, electricity and environmental programs in the country.
The joint report said Laos over a 25-year period can expect to generate $2 billion from the project.
"With close to three quarters of the population of Laos still living on less than $2 a day, the money generated by NT2 is providing a significant boost to the country's economy and helping improve people's lives," said John Roome, a World Bank director for the region.
Financial backers of the $1.5 billion project expressed concern over the environmental impact of the project, one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the region.
Apart from an increase in per-capita income, the joint report said the environmental impact from the project was anticipated and appropriate mitigation efforts are in place.
The power station will supply 95 percent of its electricity to the grids in Thailand and the remaining 5 percent to Laos. The 5 percent is enough to meet 20 percent of the annual energy demand in Laos.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/07/16/Laos-hydroelectric-dam-easing-poverty/UPI-57281279293347/
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