Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Lao Dam Association held its 2025 Annual Meeting and 9th Technical Conference in Vientiane. The conference, themed "The Importance of Dam Safety and Sustainable Development," focused on dam safety and sustainable hydropower development, reviewing dam safety performance in 2025 (including emergency safety inspections, regulatory enforcement, technical capabilities, and coordination among stakeholders), aiming to ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of dams.
The conference brought together key partners from the public, private, and academic sectors, including representatives from relevant ministries, state-owned enterprises, academic institutions, development partners, and hydropower operators, to discuss progress in dam safety management and new challenges facing the industry. The conference was co-chaired by Sanya Somvich, Deputy Director of the Energy Department of the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and Associate Professor Khamphathouth Tiongsak, President of the Lao Dam Association, highlighting the close collaboration between government, businesses, and professional organizations.
Sanya Somvich stated that the meeting's agenda aligned with the country's priorities in energy development and water resource management, noting the significant achievements of the Lao Dam Association in sustainable dam development, research, and international cooperation by 2025. He emphasized the need to prioritize dam safety, supported by innovation, high standards, effective collaboration, and professional ethics. Khamphathouth Theongsak stressed that dam safety is both a practical task and a policy responsibility and social obligation, requiring systematic collaboration from all parties.
The meeting focused on reservoir water level control, earth dam erosion risks, flood monitoring, and the effectiveness of emergency action plans, sharing practical experience during the rainy season using the Nam Thon 2 Hydropower Station as an example. In the afternoon session, the meeting approved the Association's 2025 activity plan and clarified the key points of the 2026 action plan—strengthening organizational capacity building and expanding member participation.
The meeting ultimately reached a consensus: to further improve dam safety regulations, enhance the technical skills of operating personnel, and deepen cooperation between the public and private sectors and development partners. The association also expressed its gratitude to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and its Lao branch for their technical and institutional assistance, as well as to the hydropower operators for their continued support of safe and sustainable hydropower development in Laos.
