Sixth International Conference and Exhibition onWater Resources and Hydropower Development in Asia

Vientiane, Lao PDR ~ 1 to 3 March 2016

organized and hosted by

Following meetings with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Electricité du Laos, the Mekong River Commission, IFC and the World Bank,

Aqua~Media International is pleased to announce the sixth in its series of biennial conferences onWater Resources and Hydropower Development in Asia, which will take place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, one of

the most active countries in the Southeast Asian region for hydro and water resources development.

Supporting organizations include:

ICID•CIID

Why meet in Asia?In terms of water resources and hydropower development,Asia is unique. The region hosts some of the largest damsand powerplants in the world, for example in China, India,Russia, Malaysia and Pakistan, as well as many thousandsof small-scale hydro and irrigation schemes in rural areas. The vast remaining potential of Asia offers enormous opportunities to develop clean renewable energy, whileusing the associated water storage to bring a number ofother benefits for communities. There are major businessopportunities for all involved in advancing sustainable hydropower and multipurpose water infrastructure in Asia.For the less developed countries in the region, hydro potential is equivalent to a gold mine: power trading is helping to meet the rapidly increasing demand forelectricity in neighbouring countries, while boosting national economies, and supplying local requirements.But it is well known that Asian water infrastructure facessome of the toughest challenges, for example: extremefloods, large magnitude earthquakes, challenging site conditions, and sedimentation issues.

Aqua~Media’s ASIA eventsAgainst this background, Aqua~Media launched its seriesof biennial international conferences for Asia in 2006, bringing together experts from all parts of the world, tofocus on issues specific to the plans, activities, achieve-ments and challenges of Asia. Events have taken place inBangkok, Danang, Kuching, Chiang Mai and Colombo.Technical, financial, economic, social and environmentalissues are discussed in sessions, panels and workshops.

ASIA 2016 comes to Lao PDRThe Lao Government considers hydropower a major priority for the country’s energy sector, and at least 3000MW of new capacity is currently under construction, witharound 20 000 MW more planned for the future.Nearly 3000 MW of hydro capacity is already in operation,producing 15 000 GWh/year, and covering at least 98 percent of domestic electricity consumption.More than 50 projects totalling around 4000 MW are currently listed for implementation by 2020, which are intended for domestic supply, and there are more than 20 schemes in the pipeline for power export, totalling morethan 15 000 MW. In the long term, up to 23 000 MW of technically feasible hydropower could be developed.Regional interconnections are in place, or under implementation, between Lao PDR and Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and China.The country now has experience of dams of many types,including some major RCC dams and CFRDs.The Lao Government, through the Ministry of Energy andMines, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmentand Electricité du Laos, all regular participants at the previous conferences in this series, have warmly welcomed the decision to bring ASIA 2016 to their country. The Mekong River Commission is also planning major inputto the programme, and officers will share MRC’s work ontransboundary issues, studies on climate adaptation, andsustainable hydropower development in the Mekong Riverbasin. Delegations from all the MRC member countriesplan to participate.

Vientiane as ASIA 2016 host city Vientiane is the charming and friendly capital city of Laos,and also the largest city in the country. Located on thebanks of the Mekong river, the city is steeped in legendand history. It is the home of the massive gilded stupa, PhaThat Luang, a national symbol of Laos. The streets arelined with trees, French colonial buildings, vibrant streetmarkets, Buddhist temples, and noodle shops.

Hotels and restaurants offer a rich selection of Lao and international cuisine.

Just outside the city is Buddha Park, a garden containingmore than 200 sculptures depicting the gods of Buddhistand Hindu myths.

The city offers a wide range of world class hotels, from themajor 5* Landmark and Don Chan, over looking the Mekongriver, to smaller boutique hotels in the centre of town.

The modern, spacious and well equipped National Convention Centre is an ideal venue for the Conferenceand Exhibition.

Accommodation is being reserved for ASIA 2016 participants in a variety of hotels to suit all budgets.

A shuttle bus service will be available to take delegates toand from the Convention Centre each day.

Social programme As is usual for this series of events, a full social programme is being organized for ASIA 2016 delegates andaccompanying persons.

Speakers and Chairpersons will be welcomed to a receptionand briefing on the evening preceding the Conference.

A Welcome Reception, including a buffet supper and entertainment, will be held on the first evening of theevent, and on the second day, there will be an extendedopening of the exhibition, with refreshments served. Thiswill provide an extra opportunity to make contact with the international experts participating at the exhibition, and tomake important new business contacts over a relaxingdrink.

The Conference Dinner will take place on the final evening,to bring ASIA 2016 to a memorable end.

All social events are being planned to give internationalvisitors to Laos an insight into the charming culture of thecountry, and to sample some fine examples of SoutheastAsian cuisine.

Accompanying persons’ programmeThe fascinating and colourful centre of Vientiane will be agood starting point for accompanying persons to begin athree-day package of cultural and touristic visits. Temples,galleries, shops, markets and a number of historical landmarks will be visited.

There will also be excursions out of town, with a chance tosee village life, and some fascinating landscapes.

All excursions will include lunch, and the group will return to Vientiane in time for accompanying persons tojoin the evening social programme. Full details of the package of tours will be announced shortly.

Development potential and planning• Regional overview and masterplans• Potential, planning and new developments; regional insights• Trans-boundary and cascade scheme planning• New planning tools• Flood early warning systems and mitigation measures

Financial, legal and contractual aspects• New approaches to project finance• Selection and screening of projects for private development • Commercial and financial risk management • PPAs for transboundary power trading• Concession agreements (balancing the interests of the parties)• Procurement of concessionaires• Contractual aspects of private hydro development • Construction arrangements (alternative procurement models)

Environmental and social aspects• Design adaptations and adaptive resource management for climate change• Cumulative impact assessment and cross border cooperation • Rapid Sustainability Assessment Tool: examples from the Mekong region• Asset conservation including sedimentation management• Problems with biological growth in hydro plants• Fish protection and management of reservoirs and waterways• Biomass clearance and biodiversity offset creation• Preserving and promoting cultural heritage assets • ESIA and IFI safeguard workshop • Hydrology and environmental flow assessment; downstream management• Capacity building and transfer to the next generation; a participatory approach

ASIA 2016 Themes for discussion

Hydropower and sustainable development• Maximizing and communicating the multiple benefits of hydro• The food-water-energy nexus approach• Synergy among the renewables• Making hydro more competitive (managing and mitigating risk)• Regional development through power trading

Hydropower technology• Innovations in hydraulic machinery: research and development • Use of hydro and pumped storage in the regulation of electrical systems• Recent developments in electrical systems• Operational and maintenance issues• Powerplant safety• Pumped-storage technology; applications in Asia• Small and low-head hydro

• Engineering quality in a competitive hydro market• Marine energy potential

Civil engineering• Materials for dams and appurtenant works• Advances in design and construction techniques• Recent developments in dam construction• Innovative approaches to evaluating safety • Monitoring and engineering for safe structures and sites• Underground works and tunnelling • Uprating and refurbishment of existing infrastructure • Spillways and gates: design, function and innovation• Small dams • Low cost irrigation and storage solutions

D. Aelbrecht, FranceS. Alam, FranceJ. Antunes Sobrinho, BrazilI. Araki, JapanA. Asnake, EthiopiaM. Aufleger, AustriaE. Bellendir, Russian FederationL. Berga, SpainP. Boeriu, UNESCO-IHEH. Brekke, NorwayR. Bucher, GermanyJ.M. Buil Sanz, SpainA. Carrère, FranceR.C. CharlwoodD. Develay, FranceJ-M. Devernay, FranceM. De Vivo, FranceO. Didry, FranceM.R.H. Dunstan, UKI. Ekpo, Nigeria

P. Erbisti, BrazilP. de Félix, FranceJ. Freitas, PortugalD. Fritsch, FranceM.A. Gómez Balandra, MexicoB. Gondouin, FranceM. Gospodjinac̆ki, ESHAR. Grether, GermanyF. Griffin, UKS. Grigatti, ItalyP. Gruber, SwitzerlandJ. Gummer, AustraliaC.R. Head, UKM. Heiland, GermanyA. Hughes, UKF. Isambert, FranceR.E. Israelsen, USAJia Jinsheng, ChinaØ. Johansen, NorwayC. Kayitenkore, Burundi

H. Keck, SwitzerlandH. Kreuzer, SwitzerlandT. Kunz, SwitzerlandU Myo Myint, MyanmarR. Lafitte, SwitzerlandF. Lempérière, FranceB. Leyland, New ZealandLin Chuxue, ChinaLiu Heng, ChinaP. Mason, UKL. Mouvet, SwitzerlandN. and L. Nielsen, AustraliaA. Nombre, Burkina FasoA. Noorzad, IranH. Obermoser, SwitzerlandJ. Palacios Saiz, SpainA. Palmieri, ItalyB. Pelikan, AustriaB. Petry, The NetherlandsI. Phiri, Zambia

J. Plummer, UKJ. Polimon Lopez, SpainDo Doc Quan, VietnamV. Radchenko, Russian FederationP.J. Rae, USAJ.R. Rojas Morales, Costa RicaG. Ruggeri, ItalyF. Coellha da Rocha e Silva, PortugalJ. Rupc̆ic, CroatiaA. Schleiss, SwitzerlandK. Seelos, NorwayJ-J. Simond, SwitzerlandS. Sparkes, NorwayB. Tardieu, FranceJ. Thanopoulos, GreeceB. Trouille, USAC.V.J. Varma, IndiaJ.G. Warnock, UKD.A. Williams, UKG. Zenz, Austria

International Steering Committee includes:

in sessions, panels and workshops

We now invite abstracts to be submitted on the themes listedabove or related topics. Please see details of how to submitan abstract on the back page of this brochure.

A major International Technical Exhibition will take place alongside the ASIA 2016 Conference. International consultants,developers, contractors and suppliers will showcase their expertise in the fields of water infrastructure, hydropowerequipment, monitoring devices, software for project planning, powerplant components and many other topics. The leadingprofessional associations in the field of water and energy will also display information about their initiatives and currentactivities.

Exhibition space is generally sold in units of 6 m2 (with some areas reserved for larger pavilions). Each space reserved willbe provided with white panelling, a table, two chairs, spotlights, flooring and a company name sign. The price for eachstand space (6 m2) is US$ 3290.

Lunch and refreshments will be served each day in the Exhibition Halls, to ensure that international participants haveplenty of time to visit the exhibitors. Various opportunities will also be available to sponsor or co-sponsor social activities,such as apéritifs, lunches, receptions and coffee breaks. This can be a pleasant and memorable way of bringing your organization to the attention of the international participants.

If your organization is actively involved in water resources or hydropower development in the Asian region, you should notmiss this opportunity to be represented at this event, which will bring together high level delegations in a region of theworld with the greatest potential for future development.

Technical Exhibitionand Sponsorship

CONFERENCEROOM 3

Lawn Area

Lawn AreaLawn Area

Lawn Area

= 3 x 2 m (6 m2) = US$ 3290

= Catering

Entrance / Registration and Conference room 1 Conference room 2

For more details of the Exhibition or sponsorship opportunities, contact: sales@hydropower-dams.com

Three technical tours are provisionally planned to followthe ASIA 2016 conference. Beginning on 4 March, theywill last between 3 and 4 days. The following outlinesgive an indication of the type of projects and regions thatmay be visited. Details will be confirmed shortly.

Tour 1 – Southern Laos: Xe Pian Xe Namnoy schemeThe 400 MW Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydro project is underconstruction in the Kwaeng Jampasak and Kwaeng Attapue regions of southern Lao PDR, near the Cambodianborder.

Approximately 1000 ¥ 106 m3 of water will be impounded bythe Xe Namnoy dam located on the Bolaven plateau. Ahead of 630 m will facilitate significant power generationby three 120 MW units, for export to Thailand. One furtherunit of 40 MW will generate electricity for Lao PDR. Thewater will then be discharged into the Xe Kong river.

The scheme is in Champasak province, near the town ofPakse, where there is a newly refurbished internationalairport providing easy access from Vientiane.

The location is also close to ‘Si Phan Don’ (4000 islands), ariverine archipelago located directly on the Mekong riverand close to the border with Cambodia. Si Phan Don ischaracterized by numerous picturesque islands, half ofwhich are submerged when the Mekong river is in flood.

As well as visiting the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy scheme and theSi Phan Don site, it is hoped that a tour of the operational,150 MW Houay Ho scheme will also be possible, before re-turning to Pakse airport for onward flights to Vientiane. Alternative plans are being made for delegates to have thechoice of ending the tour with a flight from Pakse directlyto Bangkok (Thailand) or Siam Reap (Cambodia) to visit theworld heritage site of Angkor Wat.

Tour 2 – Northern Laos: Xayaburi schemeThe Xayaburi project is a 1285 MW, run-of-river schemeunder construction on the lower Mekong, about 30 km eastof Xayaburi town in northern Laos.

The main dam will be 820 m long and 32.6 m high, with arated hydraulic head of 18 m. Key features of the dam include a navigation lock and the two largest fish passes inthe world. It is expected that these recently installed structures will be visited during the tour. Each of the threepairs of navigation lock mitre gates has a combined weightof 320 tonnes. Each mitre gate leaf was transported thetwo miles from the on-site manufacturing facility to thelock site in two pieces and assembled in the lock. The outlet radial gates are located in the lower level of the

spillway structure. Each of the four 12 ¥ 16 m radial gatesweighs 400 tonnes, and has a design head of 37 m.

The powerplant will house seven 175 MW Kaplan units andone 60 MW Kaplan unit for total generation of 7406GWh/year. Around 95 per cent of the electricity will be exported to Thailand through a planned 200 km-long transmission line.

As well as a visit to the Xayaburi project, delegates willhave the opportunity to visit the historic and scenic town ofLuang Prabang. The town is sited at the confluence of theNam Khan and Mekong rivers about 300 km north of Vientiane. The old town centre is a UNESCO World HeritageSite and the city is well known for its numerous Buddhisttemples and monasteries.

Tour 3 – Central Laos: Nam Ngiep 1 scheme

This tour will be less rigorous than the other tours and willvisit sites within driving distance of Vientiane. Nevertheless,the distances and road surfaces encountered will still makethe trip reasonably arduous.

The 290 MW Nam Ngiep 1 scheme is under construction tothe north-east of Vientiane, extending across Bolikhamxayand Xaysomboun provinces. Two dams and power stationsare under construction along the Ngiep river in Bolikhamxay.The main 148-m high dam will create a water storagereservoir covering a 67 km2 area, extending into Xaysombounprovince.

At the main dam site, a primary power station, will generateelectricity for export to Thailand and will release water to aregulating pond where a second dam and 19 MW powerstation will generate electricity for local use. The re-regulatingdam will ensure predictable releases of water to minimizedisruption to downstream water levels.

Continuing further west, there may then be opportunity tovisit the 60 MW Nam Leuk project or the 615 MW NamNgum 2 scheme. The larger of these schemes is approximately 35 km upstream of the existing Nam Ngum 1dam and is located on the Nam Ngum river, which is one ofthe major tributaries to the Mekong river.The recently completed project produces energy for theThai grid and comprises cofferdams, two river diversiontunnels, a 185 m-high concrete faced rockfill dam, a gatedspillway with chute and flip-bucket and a power waterwaysystem consisting of a headrace tunnel, manifold andthree, steel-lined, inclined pressure shafts. An undergroundpowerhouse is equipped with three 205 MW units,generating 2220 GWh/year.

Study Tours

ASIA 2016 ~ Water Resources and Hydropower DevelopmentVientiane, Lao PDR ~ 1 to 3 March 2016

� I am interested in attending the Conference and Exhibition as a delegate. Please send further details.

� I attach an abstract for consideration. If it is accepted, I or my representative will attend the conference to present the paper.

� I intend to submit an abstract by 3 July.

� My organization may wish to participate in the Exhibition. Please send further details.

� I am interested in sponsorship opportunities (coffee breaks, etc). Please send details.

Name: .............................................................................. Position/Dept: ................................................................................

Organization: .............................................................................................................................................................................

Address: ....................................................................................................................................................................................

Country: ........................................................................... Email: .............................................................................................

Fax: (+ int. code) .............................................................. Tel: (+ int. code) ..............................................................................

Proposed paper topic: .................................................................................................................................................................

Return to: ASIA 2016,Mrs Margaret Bourke, Conference Project Manager, Aqua~Media International, PO Box 285Wallington, Surrey SM6 6AN, UK. Tel: +44 20 8773 7244 Fax: + 44 20 8773 7255 Email: asia2016@hydropower-dams.com

Abstracts of up to 800 words, in English, are now invited on the themeslisted or related topics. Please email abstracts to the address below.A short CV of each author should be included.Your abstract should summarize precisely the scope and content of thepaper proposed. In the case of any project described, please mentionits current status or date of completion. If the abstract is sent by email,please incorporate the author’s name in the file name. Please submit theabstract as a Word document.Please suggest the theme for which your paper would be suited.Please note that abstracts should only be submitted if the author wouldbe able to attend the conference (or send a repres entative). Please ob-tain any necessary clear ance, and check your availability to attend, be-fore submitting the abstract.If your paper is accepted, you will be asked to sign a form confirmingwillingness to attend; it is essential that we receive this undertaking be-fore allocating time for an oral pres entation.If you have had a paper accepted in the past, and have not attended topresent it, you may be asked to register before acceptance of yourpaper for ASIA 2016 can be confirmed.Speakers will be eligible for greatly reduced registration fees, whichwill include meals and social events during the conference. In the caseof speakers from the less developed countries, in some exceptional cir-cumstances we may be able to secure financial support to cover fees,but it is essential that we know this at the time when the abstract is sub-mitted.

The deadline for receipt of abstracts is 3 July 2015. Authors will be notifiedby early September 2015 whether or not their paper has been acceptedfor presentation, or for publication in the Proceedings. Abstracts will generally be reviewed by two or more experts on ourInternational Steering Committee, and you may be asked to modify someaspects of your proposed paper. As this review process takes sometime, we urge you to submit abstracts promptly (if possible well beforethe final deadline).Full papers will be required by 27 November 2015, and format guidelineswill be sent to all authors whose papers are accepted.A word document and PDF of each final paper will be required.Full details of the technical and social programmes, more informationabout the excursions, accommodation and registration fees, will bepublished in the Final Bulletin, which is scheduled for publication inSeptember 2015. Regular updates will also be sent in PDF format.

HYDROPOWER & DAMSMeanwhile, information about ASIA 2016 will be updated regularly in thejournal Hydropower & Dams, by email, and on our web sitewww.hydropower-dams.comSubscribers to Hydropower & Dams will be eligible for reducedregistration fees. You can subscribe now using the form within thisbrochure, or contact:Maria Flintan at: subs@hydropower-dams.com

Submission of Abstracts