VIENTIANE: As Laos continues to strengthen water and dam safety governance and ensure the sustainable development of its hydropower sector, a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Malaithong Kommasith, successfully concluded a visit to Switzerland to deepen bilateral cooperation and share experiences on water governance, hydropower dam safety and risk management.
Hydropower remains a cornerstone of Laos’ economic development and energy future. However, these significant aspirations bring immense risk and responsibility. This is where Switzerland steps in, sharing its hands-on experiences to help protect the people and environment of the Mekong.
Today, almost 60 per cent of Switzerland’s electricity comes from hydropower. While this infrastructure drove massive economic development and remains a source of pride for Swiss engineering, it came with profound lessons and Switzerland learned that hydropower is deeply linked with social and environmental issues, beyond technical aspects.
This evolution led to a sustainable path forward built on five key pillars: fostering early, open dialogue; recognising water as a public right bound by fixed concessions; ensuring local communities have a democratic say in projects; sharing economic benefits through regional water fees and compensation; and relying on an independent regulator for safety while dam owners remain fully responsible.
Organised under the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance (DSTIA) Project, the exchange allowed the Lao delegation to explore this Swiss experience in safety oversight, emergency preparedness, and flood management.
The programme brought together government representatives, regulators and technical specialists to discuss approaches to dam safety and the evolving challenges of managing hydropower infrastructure, supported by site visits to observe how safety and monitoring are integrated into daily operations.
The delegation had the opportunity to learn from the Swiss dam safety system that is built on three key pillars: building strong and resilient structures, continuously monitoring and maintaining them, and having clear emergency plans and warning sirens to protect downstream communities.
Emerging from this important mission, the delegation established critical action items to be implemented in Laos. Central to this effort is the strict enforcement of the Dam Safety Law, which mandates essential safety monitoring equipment, systematic data collection, and the submission of an annual and a 5-year comprehensive safety report.
The delegation also prioritised reflection about respective roles and responsibilities and financial obligations among project owners, consultants, independent panels of experts, and the government.
Laos plans to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework to enhance the management of water releases during flood events, clearly defining responsibilities for hazard vigilance, downstream early warning systems, and emergency evacuation plans.
Following the high-level programme, Lao technical specialists engaged directly with Swiss dam operators and engineers to gain practical insights into climate resilient surveillance and emergency response systems.
Ultimately, this successful mission reinforces the long-standing collaboration between the two nations and supports Laos in building systems that contribute to safer and resilient hydropower operations and greater protection for communities living downstream. - Vientiane Times/ANN
