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3 Examples of Recent Catastrophic Hydro-Dam Accidents
3.2.5 The Situation One Week Later
In an international current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region (Fawthrop
2018) we read interesting confirmation of our preliminary estimates. We quote verbatim:
The Lao dam disaster in Attapeu province has cast a long, dark shadow of doubt about
the safety standards and viability of dozens of other hydro-power projects. This entirely
preventable man-made catastrophe left 6000 people homeless from floods and over 1000
villagers unaccounted for… The Lao government had initially tried to lay blame on the
heavy monsoon rain.
Media reported the director of Southeast Asian Studies at University of WisconsinMadison University, stated, like we did, the rains were predictable and “normal”
for this time of the year and added the dam broke due to a combination of poor
water management and poor construction. This conclusion is general and worldwide, as we pointed out in a publication entitled A systemic look at tailings
dams failure process (http://www.riskope.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Paper17_A-systemic-look-at-TD-failure-TMW-2016_07-11_revised.pdf) (F. Oboni and
C. Oboni 2016).
A General State of Affairs
The Laotian government has already completed 51 hydro-electric dams with another
46 under construction. Most of these projects have begun in the last 10 years, with
the government arguing that hydro-power could lift landlocked Laos out of poverty
while becoming “the battery of Asia.” Based on prior experience with earth dams,
we all know that even the “simplest” dam can generate significant risks. For example,
agricultural dams in the US created a national problem decades ago, before they were
systematically breached to reduce their risks.
China has a long history of dam disasters, including the worst dam disaster in
history, which killed 171,000 and displaced 11 million inhabitants in 1975. Tailings dams in the mining industry and dykes and levees built to protect cities and
agricultural land have a long history of failures, as witnessed by historic records,
for example, in the Netherlands. Starting with geotechnical investigations, design,
construction, monitoring and management all the way to end of service life, dam
construction is indeed a highly challenging, potentially high-risk process.
A Public Reaction is Brewing
In the words of the director of Southeast Asian Studies at University of WisconsinMadison University, Iain Baird:
Many Lao people are very upset about the breaking of the dam, calling for the Lao government
to re-assess plans to build so many dams in the Mekong River Basin. This level of concern
is unprecedented in Laos.
Long before the failed dam was built, the director co-authored an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) on Fisheries (Baird 2011) with the following recommendations:
3 Examples of Recent Catastrophic Hydro-Dam Accidents
3.2.5 The Situation One Week Later
In an international current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region (Fawthrop
2018) we read interesting confirmation of our preliminary estimates. We quote verbatim:
The Lao dam disaster in Attapeu province has cast a long, dark shadow of doubt about
the safety standards and viability of dozens of other hydro-power projects. This entirely
preventable man-made catastrophe left 6000 people homeless from floods and over 1000
villagers unaccounted for… The Lao government had initially tried to lay blame on the
heavy monsoon rain.
Media reported the director of Southeast Asian Studies at University of WisconsinMadison University, stated, like we did, the rains were predictable and “normal”
for this time of the year and added the dam broke due to a combination of poor
water management and poor construction. This conclusion is general and worldwide, as we pointed out in a publication entitled A systemic look at tailings
dams failure process (http://www.riskope.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Paper17_A-systemic-look-at-TD-failure-TMW-2016_07-11_revised.pdf) (F. Oboni and
C. Oboni 2016).
A General State of Affairs
The Laotian government has already completed 51 hydro-electric dams with another
46 under construction. Most of these projects have begun in the last 10 years, with
the government arguing that hydro-power could lift landlocked Laos out of poverty
while becoming “the battery of Asia.” Based on prior experience with earth dams,
we all know that even the “simplest” dam can generate significant risks. For example,
agricultural dams in the US created a national problem decades ago, before they were
systematically breached to reduce their risks.
China has a long history of dam disasters, including the worst dam disaster in
history, which killed 171,000 and displaced 11 million inhabitants in 1975. Tailings dams in the mining industry and dykes and levees built to protect cities and
agricultural land have a long history of failures, as witnessed by historic records,
for example, in the Netherlands. Starting with geotechnical investigations, design,
construction, monitoring and management all the way to end of service life, dam
construction is indeed a highly challenging, potentially high-risk process.
A Public Reaction is Brewing
In the words of the director of Southeast Asian Studies at University of WisconsinMadison University, Iain Baird:
Many Lao people are very upset about the breaking of the dam, calling for the Lao government
to re-assess plans to build so many dams in the Mekong River Basin. This level of concern
is unprecedented in Laos.
Long before the failed dam was built, the director co-authored an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) on Fisheries (Baird 2011) with the following recommendations: