VIENTIANE: New rules require dam operators to assess safety risks and obtain certification, valid for five to 10 years depending on the level of risk.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the Decision in October 2026, establishing procedures for assessing, classifying and registering dam risks to strengthen safety oversight and protect downstream communities.
Under the ruling, titled Classification and Registration of Dam Risks, dam operators must assess potential dangers, submit technical information, and obtain risk classification certificates from the responsible dam safety management agency.
The regulations establish four risk categories: low, moderate, high and severe. Each category determines how frequently operators must renew their certification.
Under Article 18, certificates for dams classified as severe risk are valid for five years, compared with eight years for high-risk dams and 10 years for moderate-risk dams.
Certificates for low-risk dams are generally valid for 10 years, although their validity may also depend on technical assessments by the responsible agency.
Dam operators must begin the renewal process 12 months before their certificates expire, according to Article 19.
The Decision also establishes a scoring system based on four factors: reservoir storage capacity, dam height, the number of people potentially at risk, and possible economic, social and environmental damage.
Dams scoring zero to six points are classified as low risk, while those scoring seven to 18 points are considered moderate risk. Scores of 19 to 30 indicate high risk, while 31 to 38 points indicate severe risk.
The system places particular emphasis on communities that could be affected by a dam failure.
For example, dams that could put more than 100 people at risk receive the highest score for population exposure, making potential consequences for human life an important part of the assessment.
A severe-risk classification does not necessarily mean a dam is structurally unsafe; it reflects the potential scale of harm if a failure occurs.
The Decision also requires operators to consider possible risks involving dams located along the same river system, including the potential impact of upstream failures on downstream structures.
For new dams, developers must assess risks during the design process and submit the required information for review.
Under Article 16, the responsible agency has 30 days to review applications and either issue a certificate or require improvements to the submitted information.
The regulations build on Laos’ existing dam safety framework, including the Law on Dam Safety enacted in 2022.
The rules come as hydropower remains central to Laos’ economy. Hydropower accounts for about 80 per cent of the country’s electricity output, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, making dam safety important both for local communities and electricity generation.
Dam safety remains a major concern following the 2018 Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy disaster in Attapeu province, which caused catastrophic flooding, destroyed homes, and displaced thousands of people.
The new ruling does not specify how many dams currently fall into each risk category, but provides a formal framework for assessing potential dangers and determining certification requirements. - Vientiane Times/ANN
