Cambodian energy officials said the country would not build hydroelectric dams on the Mekong mainstream in the next 10 years.

Victor Jona, general manager of energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Cambodia, said today in Phnom Penh that the Cambodian government received input from research by Japanese consultants, recommending Cambodia to seek energy from sources. other.

"According to the research, we need to develop coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG), solar energy and import from neighboring countries," he said.

"Under this 10-year plan, from 2020 to 2030, we will not build dams on the Mekong mainstream," he said.

Cambodia had previously announced plans to build two dams at Sambor and Stung Treng, but both projects were delayed. Cambodia's decision means Laos, which has opened two new dams on the Mekong mainstream in the past six months, is the only country in the lower Mekong basin that plans to develop hydroelectric dams on the river.

The Mekong River has a total length of 4,880 km, flowing through 6 countries including China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Mekong Delta provinces of Vietnam are experiencing severe drought. Experts believe that, besides the causes of climate change, hydroelectric dams in the upstream areas have made the situation worse.

Hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River as of November 2019. Graphics: Stimson Research Center, USA.