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18 Sep 2023

Laos: CSOs allege Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam collapse survivors have not been adequately compensated

Five years after the auxiliary dam (Saddle D) of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project in Laos collapsed, an international coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) reported that survivors have not been adequately compensated. In a report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the CSOs stated survivors have not received compensation for valuables and other items of emotional value, which were washed away by the flood but not included in the property damage evaluation. The CSOs also reported no compensation for the psychological damage caused by the tragedy, nor any support for trauma recovery. According to KTNC Watch’s field interviews with the survivors, the survivors were relocated to unfamiliar lands and are not provided with sustainable livelihoods.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre asked companies named in the report to UN CESCR, Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power (PNPC), SK Ecoplant, Korea Western Power Company, RATCH Laos, and Export-Import Bank of Korea, for a response. None of the companies responded. The Resource Centre was not able to reach Lao Holding State Enterprise due to lack of viable publicly available contact information.

Company Responses

Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power

No Response

SK Ecoplant (part of SK Corporation)

No Response

Korea Western Power Company

No Response

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company

No Response

Export-Import Bank of Korea

No Response

Timeline