Mekong Energy and Ecology Network

Improving energy sustainability, empowering local communities, and safeguarding ecology in the Mekong Region
MEKONG ENERGY AND ECOLOGY NEWS
Myanmar has been the
primary focus at MEE Net
recently, with special
emphasis on monitoring
hydropower development
on the Salween and
Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy)
rivers. The Salween is the
longest free-flowing river
in Southeast Asia, but it is
threatened by a proposed
five-dam cascade in China
and another six dams in
Myanmar, including the
Kunlong Dam, which the
government recent l y
announced it will be going
ahead with soon.
The Ayeyarwady is also
under threat from dam
construction. Despite
indefinite postponement
of the Myitsone Dam,
o t h e r h y d r o p o we r
installments are still being
proposed. Together with
REAM and Sein Yaung So,
MEE Net trained local
villagers from communities
along the Ayeyarwady to
research the effects of a
c h a n g i n g r i p a r i a n
ecosystem due to economic
development on the river
and village life through a
C o mmu n i t y - c e n t e r e d
Strategic Environmental
Assessment (CSEA). We
started the research in 11
villages last year, with some
of the findings presented at
a conference in December.
Now were looking to
expand the research to
another 14 communities,
with training sessions for
both the new and returning
researchers to be held in
August.
Earlier this month the
MEE Net team went to
Yangon to host the first of
what are planned to
become regular open
f orums t o di scuss
development of the
ener g y sect or i n
Myanmar. Topics such as
ADBs investment in a
national grid line to
connect to Thailands
national grid and the
construction of industrial
plants that will require
electricity were discussed
at this first session. The
same day, the team
hosted another forum to
di scuss hydr opower
development on the
Salween River in order to
plan and prepare for a
conference co-hosted with
TERRA and REAM, which
wi l l be hel d at
Mawlamyaing University in
September regarding this
topic.
Although the rain caused
lower attendance at these
meetings than was hoped
for, the trip to Yangon was
overall a success.
Whats happening at MEE Net?
Welcome to MEE Nets
first newsletter!
Remember, were just
testing right now, so
any comments you
have on the layout,
design, or content are
always welcome!
Mark your
calendars!
Heres whats
coming up soon!
We recently had the first
of what we hope will be
monthly think tank
forums to increase
monitoring and
participation in the
Myanmar energy sector.
If your organization is
interested in being a
part, please let us know!
In August we will be
hosting training
workshops for the new
research facilitators for
the next 14 villages in
our CSEA project.
In September we will be
co-hosting conferences,
along with REAM and
TERRA, at Mawlamyaing
University regarding the
transboundary issues
with the Salween River.
Working towards the future
While they were in Yangon, the
MEE Net team also met with U
Aung Myint, a chairperson from
REAM who was formerly a
professor of marine biology at
Mawlamyaing University. For
years he has been directing
marine biology students working
on their doctoral degrees as
they perform research on the
biology of the Ayeyarwady River
delta. MEE Net is hoping to
team up with these students to
see how the biology of the delta
has changed and is continuing
to change from economic
development along the river,
through such effects as
increased salt intrusion and
bank erosion.
The first 11 test sites of our CSEA
Future site of the Kunlong
Dam on the Salween River
(photo credit: SWAN 2009)
Headlines from around the region
409 Soi Rohitsuk
(Ratchadapisek Soi 14)
Pracharatbampen Rd
Huay Khwang, Bangkok
10320
Phone: +66 (0)2691 0718
Fax: +66 (0)2691 0714
Email:
meenet.info@meenet.org
MEKONG ENERGY AND
ECOLOGY NETWORK
Questions or comments?
Contact us!
Improving, empowering, safeguarding
Since its inception under the Foundation
for Ecological Recovery (FER) in 2008, MEE
Net has been a organization aimed at
networking between civil society groups
around the Mekong Region with a specific
focus on the energy sector.
Pr i mar i l y f ocusi ng on
monitoring and research, MEE
Net strives to keep its
partners updated on the
latest issues and news in
the Mekong Region in order that they may
provide informed advocacy for improving
energy sustainability, empowering local
communities, and safeguarding ecology in the
Mekong Region. Under the leadership of
Director Witoon Permpongsacharoen, the
current MEE Net network comprises over 40
partner organizations spanning across the
region, bringing together partners from all six
Mekong countries to address energy and
power issues at a regional level.
Our work at MEE Net is structured into
three regional themes: Know Your Power,
Transboundary Issues, and Follow the
Money Trail. With the Know Your Power
theme, we strive to make power policy
better understood by all so it
can be a more democratic
process, and we support civil
society groups in developing the
capacity to participate in this
p o l i c y p l a n n i n g . U n d e r
Transboundary Issues, we work to get policy
makers to recognize that decisions
regarding energy affect all countries in the
region and the policies in place need to
acknowledge that. And finally under the
Follow the Money Trail theme, we
investigate energy investments and how
energy industries, stock markets,
construction industries, stakeholders, and
other diverse actors interact and connect
within the web of energy infrastructure.
Want more on
MEE Net? Visit
meenet.org!
Vietnam demands halt to Mekong dams (10
June): https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/
show/single/en/7032-Vietnam-demands-halt-
to-Mekong-dams

Why solar is the way forward for Southeast
Asia (20 May): http://www.eco-business.com/
opinion/why-solar-way-forward-southeast-
asia/

$1 billion went missing while China was
building this electricity grid (17 June): http://
qz.com/222197/1-billion-went-missing-while-
china-was-building-this-electricity-grid/
Govt pushes ahead with 3 Salween,
Irrawaddy tributary dams (20 June): http://
www.irrawaddy.org/burma/govt-pushes-
ahead-3-salween-irrawaddy-tributary-
dams.html

Mekong River countries face make or break
moment over Laos dams (18 June): http://
www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/dam-
06182014211057.html

Do Chinas dam plans hold water for low
carbon development?: http://
www.wilsoncenter.org/wilsonweekly/cef/
china_hydropower/index.html
Like what youve seen
in this newsletter?
Want news from your
organization included in
the newsletter? Email us
150-250 words about
what your organizaton is
working on by 20 July,
and well try to include it
in our next issue!
MEE Net is supported by
Siemenpuu Foundation



Men work
on Chinas
West-East
Electricity
Transfer
(photo
credit:
Reuters/
China Daily)