PNPCA Prior Consultations
The prior consultation is a process under the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement, or PNPCA. It’s a process for the MRC Member Countries and other stakeholders to discuss and review benefits and address associated risks of any water-use project proposed for the mainstream, which may have potential significant cross-border impacts on the Mekong river flow regimes, water quality and other environmental and socio-economic conditions.
The PNPCA is one of the five sets of MRC Procedural Rules on water quality, data sharing, water use monitoring, water flow maintenance, and water use cooperation to support the implementation of the 1995 Mekong Agreement. The MRC has concluded the prior consultations for five hydropower projects: Xayaburi, Don Sahong, Pak Beng, Pak Lay and Luang Prabang, and is carrying out the consultations for the Sanakham project. These projects are situated in the Mekong mainstream in Lao PDR.
11 May 2020
The Sanakham hydropower project is proposed on the Mekong mainstream between Xayaburi and Vientiane provinces of Lao PDR. The run-of-river dam will operate continuously year-round and produce 684 megawatts of electricity. It is designed with 12 turbines or generators, each producing 57 MW. The project’s construction is expected to begin in 2020 and finish in 2028.
30 September 2019
The Luang Prabang hydropower project is proposed on the Mekong mainstream in the Houygno village of Luang Prabang province. The run-of-river dam will operate continuously year-round and produce 1,460 MW of electricity. It is designed with seven turbines or generators, each producing 200 MW The project’s construction is expected to begin in 2020 and finish in 2027.
29 August 2018
The Pak Lay hydropower project is proposed on the Mekong mainstream in Pak Lay district, Xayaburi province, in north-western Lao PDR. The run-of-river dam will operate continuously year-round and produce 770 megawatts of electricity, designed with 14 turbines or generators, each producing 55 MW. The construction is expected to start in 2022 and the commercial operation to begin when the construction finishes in 2029.
17 January 2017
The Pak Beng hydropower project is proposed on the Mekong mainstream in the northern territory of Lao PDR. The run-of-river project with capacity of 912 MW and the average annual generation of 4,775 GWh is expected to produce power for domestic supply and export.
15 October 2014
The Don Sahong Hydropower Project is situated in one of the braided channels in the Mekong River’s Siphandone area of Southern Lao PDR. It will produce 260 megawatts of electricity.
15-22 April 2011
The prior consultation process under Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) is a requirement of the 1995 Mekong Agreement for countries to jointly review any development project proposed for the mainstream with an aim to reach a consensus on whether or not it should proceed, and if so, under what conditions.
