Efforts to apply to RSAT in Mekong tributary sub-basins under the MRC-ISH program since 2010

Donna Brown, EnturaConsultant to the MRC-ISHCPWF Forum, Hanoi, November 2013Session 19: Advancing Sustainability in the Mekong Region: The role of assessment tools and standards

Regulatory & Governance

Energy planning

&regulation

River basin planning(Multi-sector)

HydroProjects

Sustainable hydropower development requires a basin wide integrative approach

10 RSAT Topics(economic, technical, social & environmental)

4 RSAT Criteria

Many Mekong sub-basins have a number of IPP hydropower projects

The RSAT is designed to consider hydropower in a broader basin wide context

Private investors optimise individual projects – current situation

Governments must optimise basin wide development outcomes – we are missing this step

RSAT Trials2010-14• Nam Ngum – Lao PDR• Nam Ou - Lao PDR• Sre Pok Lower - Cambodia• Sre Pok Upper - Vietnam• Nam Kam – Thailand• 3S Basin – transboundary• Pursat - Cambodia• Sesan Upper – Vietnam• NT-NK – Lao PDR

Feedback and improve – RSAT version 4

Nam Ou, Lao PDR

 

 Nam Ngum,Lao PDR

  

3S Basin, Transboundary

Nam Kam Thailand

 

 

Nam Theun-Nam KadingLao PDR

 

 

 

Sre Pok Lower Cambodia Sesan Upper

Vietnam

Pursat, Cambodia

What are we trying to achieve with RSAT trials?

Develop a tool and enabling environment for basin wide HP sustainability assessments that has ownership, credibility and relevance for planning and decision making support

Common issues• Project by project approach to development in the

absence of sub-basin planning = sub-optimal development

• Poor quality feasibility and EIA studies & non-disclosure

• Co-ordination processes and law enforcement are not well developed in hydropower sub-basins

• Insufficient data, expertise and resources in national and provincial agencies

• Planning and decision making driven by private investors needs and energy ministries

• Insufficient mechanisms to identify and manage national and basin-wide risks for host governments & society

Achievements• Raised awareness of importance of basin wide

planning and management for hydropower• Positive feedback from all countries that RSAT is a useful and valuable tool• Requests for repeat assessments and training• Interest from some countries to integrate RSAT

into existing planning and regulatory processes• Support for some follow up actions after assessments

• Increased engagement and training with provincial level stakeholders in hydropower basins

• Increased engagement with IPP’s and non-government stakeholders in some countries

• RSAT Field visits have raised awareness of “on-ground” and technical issues

Achievements

What are some of the challenges and

limitations ?• Access to data and information • Participation to date has been mostly

government stakeholders – need to broaden participation

• The scope is large for a “rapid” assessment

• Expertise of participants in the basin can limit engagement on technical issues and quality of outputs

What are some of the challenges and

limitations ?• For many participants it is new to

discuss and assess performance in areas of government responsibility

• Limited attention to follow up actions on priority issues

• Energy ministries perception that another tool may slow down or hinder development

• Disconnect between RSAT assessments and planning and decision making processes

Conclusion

To advance sustainable hydropower……….• RSAT can play a role - uptake is slow• Need to develop technical expertise and experience

for sustainable hydropower amongst government stakeholders

• Need to raise awareness of the nature of risks associated with hydropower development and the options available to mitigate those risks

• Basin wide approaches provide a more secure investment environment for developers through improved basin planning & optimisation for hydropower