3.2 The Xe-Pian Dam Disaster
33
Considering its important and relatively intact natural resources in fishes as well as in forests,
mammals, birds and other organisms, we recommend that plans to dam and divert the upper
Xe Pian be dropped from the Xe Nam Noy-Xe Pian project. Only in this way can the fisheries,
wildlife and village resources of the area be protected and preserved for future generations.
Sadly, the recommendation was not followed-up. Lao Prime Minister Thongloun
Sisoulith admitted it was the worst disaster faced by the small Southeast Asian
country in decades.
Closing Remarks
In this failure case and similarly to tailings dams portfolios, we can conclude that the
results of decisions and choices made at the inception of dam projects will generate
risks for decades in the future. If our first estimate is indeed correct, we will hear more
serious news coming from that corner of the world, in some cases widely passing
national borders.
References
Baird I (2011) The Don Sahong Dam: Potential Impacts on Regional Fish Migrations, Livelihoods
and Human Health. Critical Asian Studies. 43. 211–235 https://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2011.
570567
Fawthrop T (2018) Laos’ Dam Disaster May Not Be Its Last. The Diplomat, 2 August 2018 https://
thediplomat.com/2018/08/laos-dam-disaster-may-not-be-its-last/
[IFRC/Lao Red Cross 2018] International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (2018) Lao dam collapse floods nearby towns and affects thousands
of people https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/lao-dam-collapse-floodsnearby-towns-and-affects-thousands
[IFT Report 2018] Independent Forensic Team Report, Oroville Dam Spillway Incident, January 5, 2018 https://damsafety.org/sites/default/files/files/Independent%20Forensic%20Team%
20Report%20Final%2001-05-18.pdf
Oboni C, Oboni F (2012) Is it true that PIGs Fly when Evaluating Risks of Tailings Management
Systems? Mining 2012, Keystone CO
Oboni F, Oboni C (2016) A systemic look at tailings dams failure process, Tailings and Mine Waste
2016, Keystone CO, USA, October 2–5, 2016 https://www.riskope.com/wp-content/uploads/
2016/10/Paper-17_A-systemic-look-at-TD-failure-TMW-2016_07-11_revised.pdf
Poindexter GB (2015) Project Update: 410-MW Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric project in
Laos, Hydro-Review, 19 November 2015 https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2015/11/us-102-billion-410-mw-xe-pian-xe-namnoy-hydroelectric-project-includes-3-dams.html
Sosnowski A (2018) 2018 Asia spring forecast: Tropical storms to threaten Philippines to
eastern India; Drought may build from eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan. AccuWeather (https://
www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/asia-spring-forecast-2018-tropicalstorms-to-threatenphilippines-to-eastern-india-while-drought-may-build-from-easternturkey-to-kazakhstan/
70004154), February 26, 2018
[UNISDR et al. 2018] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction et al. (2018) Country
Assessment Report for Lao PDR: Strengthening of Hydrometeorological Services in Southeast
Asia https://www.unisdr.org/files/33988_countryassessmentreportlaopdr%5B1%5D.pdf
[UN OCHA 2018] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2018) Lao PDR:
Flooding - Office of the UN Resident Coordinator Situation Report No. 01 (as of 24
July 2018) https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/lao-pdr-flooding-officeun-resident-coordinator-situation
Whitman RV (1984) Evaluating calculated risk in geotechnical engineering. J. Geot. Engineering
110(2): 145–188
33
Considering its important and relatively intact natural resources in fishes as well as in forests,
mammals, birds and other organisms, we recommend that plans to dam and divert the upper
Xe Pian be dropped from the Xe Nam Noy-Xe Pian project. Only in this way can the fisheries,
wildlife and village resources of the area be protected and preserved for future generations.
Sadly, the recommendation was not followed-up. Lao Prime Minister Thongloun
Sisoulith admitted it was the worst disaster faced by the small Southeast Asian
country in decades.
Closing Remarks
In this failure case and similarly to tailings dams portfolios, we can conclude that the
results of decisions and choices made at the inception of dam projects will generate
risks for decades in the future. If our first estimate is indeed correct, we will hear more
serious news coming from that corner of the world, in some cases widely passing
national borders.
References
Baird I (2011) The Don Sahong Dam: Potential Impacts on Regional Fish Migrations, Livelihoods
and Human Health. Critical Asian Studies. 43. 211–235 https://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2011.
570567
Fawthrop T (2018) Laos’ Dam Disaster May Not Be Its Last. The Diplomat, 2 August 2018 https://
thediplomat.com/2018/08/laos-dam-disaster-may-not-be-its-last/
[IFRC/Lao Red Cross 2018] International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (2018) Lao dam collapse floods nearby towns and affects thousands
of people https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/lao-dam-collapse-floodsnearby-towns-and-affects-thousands
[IFT Report 2018] Independent Forensic Team Report, Oroville Dam Spillway Incident, January 5, 2018 https://damsafety.org/sites/default/files/files/Independent%20Forensic%20Team%
20Report%20Final%2001-05-18.pdf
Oboni C, Oboni F (2012) Is it true that PIGs Fly when Evaluating Risks of Tailings Management
Systems? Mining 2012, Keystone CO
Oboni F, Oboni C (2016) A systemic look at tailings dams failure process, Tailings and Mine Waste
2016, Keystone CO, USA, October 2–5, 2016 https://www.riskope.com/wp-content/uploads/
2016/10/Paper-17_A-systemic-look-at-TD-failure-TMW-2016_07-11_revised.pdf
Poindexter GB (2015) Project Update: 410-MW Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric project in
Laos, Hydro-Review, 19 November 2015 https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2015/11/us-102-billion-410-mw-xe-pian-xe-namnoy-hydroelectric-project-includes-3-dams.html
Sosnowski A (2018) 2018 Asia spring forecast: Tropical storms to threaten Philippines to
eastern India; Drought may build from eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan. AccuWeather (https://
www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/asia-spring-forecast-2018-tropicalstorms-to-threatenphilippines-to-eastern-india-while-drought-may-build-from-easternturkey-to-kazakhstan/
70004154), February 26, 2018
[UNISDR et al. 2018] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction et al. (2018) Country
Assessment Report for Lao PDR: Strengthening of Hydrometeorological Services in Southeast
Asia https://www.unisdr.org/files/33988_countryassessmentreportlaopdr%5B1%5D.pdf
[UN OCHA 2018] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2018) Lao PDR:
Flooding - Office of the UN Resident Coordinator Situation Report No. 01 (as of 24
July 2018) https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/lao-pdr-flooding-officeun-resident-coordinator-situation
Whitman RV (1984) Evaluating calculated risk in geotechnical engineering. J. Geot. Engineering
110(2): 145–188