The construction of the Luang Prabang Dam, a significant new project on the Mekong River in Laos, is causing widespread concern. The small country of 7.5 million inhabitants aspires to become the leading low-carbon energy producer in Southeast Asia.
Since the 2000s, some 80 hydroelectric power plants have risen along the Mekong and its tributaries. However, this new project threatens the former royal capital of Luang Prabang, currently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A report for France 24 by Matt Hunt, Constantin Simon, Aruna Popuri, and William De Tamaris