The estimated hydropower potential of Mekong River Basin about 58,930 Megawatts (MW). As of February 2024, there are an estimated 167 Hydropower Plants (HPPs) in the Mekong, with a combined installed capacity of some 36,376.3 MW. An additional 20 HPPs are currently under construction and at various stages of completion. These have a combined installed capacity of an additional 4,535.5 MW.
The single most significant impact on the use of water and its management in the Mekong Region is hydropower. These developments in the Mekong River Basin have resulted in substantial environmental and social impacts, which are summarised below. These have fuelled controversy and hydropower is a prominent part of the discussion around the river, its basin, and its management. This debate occurs in both the academic literature, as well as the media, and is a focus for many activist groups.
The countries that share the Mekong River Basin have all sought the large-scale infrastructural development of its waters. As part of China's Great Western Development program, large-scale hydropower development in China's Yunnan Province has been substantial, on the Mekong, the Jinsha, and the Red rivers. Large amounts of Yunnan's hydropower is exported eastwards to energy intensive load centres, such as Guangxi and Guangdong. Yunnan, however, has large electricity over-supply problems, which has led to significant hydropower curtailment.
The Lao government has also prioritized hydropower development, primarily as an export commodity. In 2021, almost 82% of Lao electricity was exported, mostly to Thailand. Power production (from all sources, including hydropower) contributed 12.8% to national GDP in 2022, while electricity exports comprised almost 29% of total export values in the same year, and investments in electricity production represented 79% of total foreign direct investment in 2021.
Most of Cambodia's hydropower has been developed in the southwest of the country, outside of the Mekong River Basin. Its largest HPP, the Lower Sesan 2 is, however, within the Mekong River Basin, and generates some 20% of the country's electricity. Cambodia has ruled out developing hydropower on the Mekong mainstream, but multiple dams are planned for construction in Mekong tributary catchments. Cambodia also exports electricity directly from the Don Sahong HPP, a southern Lao dam located on the Mekong mainstream.
In Thailand, little technically exploitable hydropower potential remains in its parts of the Mekong River Basin. Most of its HPPs were developed in the 1980s and 1990s, and accompanied by large-scale irrigation infrastructure development as part of the massive Kong-Chi-Mun Project, more recently rearticulated as the Khong-Loei-Chi-Mun Project Large-scale energy infrastructure in Thailand has been met with strong resistance - for example, the Assembly of the Poor's opposition to the Pak Mun HPP, the last dam to be commissioned in Thailand. This has forced Thailand to export the social and environmental externalities of hydropower construction and operation to neighbouring states.
While there are multiple HPPs planned for Myanmar parts of the Mekong River Basin, years of political instability have generally impended hydropower development.
Vietnam's Mekong hydropower development is concentrated in its Central Highlands. It does not appear as if any technically-exploitable hydropower potential remains. Here, hydropower has also been accompanied by significant irrigation development. Vietnam's hydropower investments in this area includes sizeable dams on two key Mekong tributaries, the Sesan and the Srepok rivers.
Mekong mainstream hydropower plants HPPs on the Mekong mainstream have aroused particular environmental concerns. The majority of these are based in China's Yunnan Province. Table 1 below indicates the status of each of these HPPs.
Table 1: Hydropower plants on the Mekong mainstream
Project Country Location COD Installed capacity (MW) Status Sambor N/A 2,600 Cancelled Stung Treng N/A 980 Cancelled Angsai ? 55 Planned Baita ? ? Planned Banda ? 1,000 Planned Bangduo ? 720 Planned Dachaoshan 2003 1,350 Commissioned Dahuaqiao 2018 920 Commissioned Dongzhong ? 108 Planned Ganlanba ? 155 Planned Gongguoqiao 2012 900 Commissioned Guoduo 2015 160 Commissioned Guonian N/A 1,200 Cancelled Gushui ? 2,600 Planned Huangdeng 2017 1,900 Commissioned Jinghong 2009 1,750 Commissioned Lidi 2019 420 Commissioned Lin Chang ? 72 Planned Longqingxia 2006 2.5 Commissioned Manwan 1995 1,570 Commissioned Mengsong N/A 600 Cancelled Miaowei 2017 1,400 Commissioned Nuozhadu 2014 5,850 Commissioned Quzika ? 405 Planned Ru Mei ? 2,100 Planned Sidige ? 129 Planned Tuoba 2024 1,400 Commissioned Wunonglong 2018 990 Commissioned Xiaowan 2010 4,200 Commissioned Yue Long 2030 100 Planned Ban Koum 2030 1,872 Planned Don Sahong 2020 240 Commissioned Luang Prabang 2030 1,460 Under construction Pak Chom ? 1,079 Planned Pak Beng 2033https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/2570072/all-quiet-on-the-mekong-front. Bangkok Post. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2026-07-04 912 Planned Pak Lay 2029 728 Planned Phoug Noi 2029 728 Planned Sanakham 2028 684 Planned. As of Q4 2024, "the government [is being urged] to delay the public hearing process", according to media.https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2923451/govt-urged-to-delay-dam-consultation?tbref=hp. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-12-20 Thako N/A 86-172 Cancelled Xayaburi 2019 1,285 Commissioned
Notes: COD = Commercial Operating Date; N/A = Not Applicable
Existing hydropower infrastructure in the Mekong River Basin Table 2: Commissioned dams in the Mekong River Basin (15 MW installed capacity and above)
Project Country River Location COD Installed capacity (MW) Mean Annual Energy (GWh) Height (m) Crest length (m) Total storage (million m3) Max reservoir area (km2) Lower Sesan 2 Sesan 2018 400 2,312 45 7,729 1,790 335 Dachaoshan Mekong 2003 1,350 5,500 115 481 890 26.25 Dahuaqiao Mekong 2018 920 4,070 106 231.5 293 Ganlanba Mekong 2015 155 1,177 60.5 458 577 58 Gongguoqiao Mekong 2012 900 4,041 105 356 316 343 Guoduo Mekong 2015 160 823 93 235.5 83 Huangdeng Mekong 2017 1,900 8,578 203 457 1,613 Jinfeng Nan La He 1998 16 64.3 45 19.48 Jinghong Mekong 2009 1,750 5,570 108 705.5 1,140 510 Jinhe Jin He 2004 60 367 34 68.4 4.27 Laoyinyan Gua Lan Zi He/Shun Dian He 1997 16 4.2 1,092 Lidi Mekong 2019 420 1,753 75 346.4 75 3.7 Luozhahe 1 Luo Zha He 2018 30 135 59 14.33 Luozhahe 2 Luo Zha He 2016{ 50 225 71 3,391 Manwan Mekong 1995 1,570 6,710 132 418 920 415 Miaowei Mekong 2017 1,400 5,999 140 660 Nanhe 1 Luo Zha He 2009 40 170 56.8 148 11.36 Nanhe 2 Luo Zha He ? 25 100 Nuozhadu Mekong 2014 5,850 23,912 262 608 23,703 320 Tuoba Mekong 2024 1,400 Commissioned Wunonglong Mekong 2018 990 4,116 138 247 284 Xiaowan Mekong 2010 4,200 18,990 295 893 14,560 194 Xi'er He 1 Xi'er He 1979 105 440 Xi'er He 2 Xi'er He 1987 50 37 122 0.2 Xi'er He 3 Xi'er He 1988 50 223 21 Xi'er He 4 Xi'er He 1971 50 14 XunCun Hei Hui Jiang 1999 78 345 67 165 74 Mong Wa Nam Lwe 2017 66 330.45 51 78 8.01 Don Sahong Mekong 2020 240 2,000 25 6,800 25 2.2 Houay Ho Houayho/Xekong 1999 152 450 79 3,530 37 Houay La Nge Houay La-Nge 2023 60 290 58 179 14 93.6 Houay Lamphan Gnai Xekong 2015 84.8 480 77 74.5 140 9 Houay Por Houay Por 2018 15 75 6 0.76 Lower Houay Lam Phanh Houay Lamphan 2022 15 68 55 523 73.9 Nam Ao Nam Ao 2023 15 92 26 130 52 4.9 Nam Beng Nam Beng 2014 36 145 25.5 84.8 3,611 0.7 Nam Che 1 Nam Che 2019 16.8 23 50 Nam Chien 1 Nam Che 2018 104 448.2 68.8 367 14 Nam Houng 1 Nam Houng 2023 15 57 1.52 Nam Khan 2 Nam Khan 2015 130 558 160 405 30.5 Nam Khan 3 Nam Khan 2016 88 480 77 74.5 140 9 Nam Kong 1 Nam Kong 2021 160 649 87 386 679 21.8 Nam Kong 2 Nam Kong 2018 66 264 50 210 71.4 4.2 Nam Kong 3 Nam Kong 2021 54 204 65 500 471 32 Nam Leuk Nam Leuk/Nam Ngum 2000 60 215 51.5 800 185 17.2 Nam Lik 1 Nam Lik 2019 64 256 36.5 72 22.3 Nam Lik 1-2 Nam Lik 2010 100 435 103 328 11 24.4 Nam Mang 1 Nam Mang 2016 64 225 70 280 16.5 0.148 Nam Mang 3 Nam Gnogn 2004 40 150 28 151 49 10 Nam Ngiep 1 Nam Ngiep 2019 272 1,546 167 530 1,192 67 Nam Ngiep 1 (DS) Nam Ngiep 2019 18 105 20 90 4.6 1.27 Nam Ngiep 2 Nam Ngiep 2015 180 732 70.5 163 Nam Ngiep 2B Nam Ngiep 2015 18 76 Nam Ngiep 3A Nam Ngiep 2014 44 144 30 110 13.85 1.8 Nam Ngum 1 Nam Ngum 1971 315 1,455 70 468 4,700 370 Nam Ngum 2 Nam Ngum 2011 615 2,300 181.5 421 3,590 122.2 Nam Ngum 5 Nam Ngum 2012 120 507 104.5 258 314 14.6 Nam Ou 1 Nam Ou 2019 160 710 65 442 89.1 9.56 Nam Ou 2 Nam Ou 2016 120 546 55 352 121.7 15.7 Nam Ou 3 Nam Ou 2020 150 685 72 340 168.6 13.26 Nam Ou 4 Nam Ou 2020 116 524 47 300 124 9.37 Nam Ou 5 Nam Ou 2016 240 1,049 74 335 17.22 Nam Ou 6 Nam Ou 2016 180 739 88 409 17.01 Nam Ou 7 Nam Ou 2020 190 811 147 825 1,494 38.16 Nam Pha Gnai Nam Pha Gnai 2016 19.2 130 65 148 1.5 Nam Phay Nam Phay 2018 86 419.5 18.92 Nam San 3A Nam San 2016 69 278.4 75 350 123 8.5 Nam San 3B Nam San 2015 45 198 Nam Tha 1 Nam Tha 2018 168 759.4 93.7 349.2 1,755 113.9 Nam Tha Had Muak Nam Tha 2022 37.5 102.67 Nam Theun 1 Nam Theun 2022 650 2,561 177 771 2,772 93.6 Nam Theun 2 Nam Theun/Xe Bangfai 2010 1,075 5,936 48 325 3,500 450 Theun-Hinboun Nam Theun 1998 220 1,645 48 810 1,300 49 Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project Nam Gnouang 2013 222 1,395 65 480 2,450 49 Xayaburi Mekong 2019 1,285 6,035 48 810 1,300 49 Xe Kaman 1 Xe Kaman 2018 290 1,096 120 185 4,804 149.8 Xe Kaman 3 Xe Kaman 2014 250 1,000 102 543 141.5 5.2 Xe Kaman-Sanxay Xe Kaman 2018 32 131.2 28 180 1.76 Xe Lanong 1 Xe Lanong 2020 70 269.9 67.5 302 953 Xepian-Xenamnoy Xepian/Xenamnoy 2019 427 1,788 73 1,600 1,043 50.6 Xe Nam Noy - Xe Katam Xenamnoi/Xekatam 2016 20.1 83 Xeset 1 Xeset 1994 45 154 18 124 Xeset 2 Xeset 2009 76 309 26 144 Xeset 3 Xe Don 2017 23 80 11 1.3 Chulabhorn Nam Phrom 1972 40 93 70 700 165 31 Lam Ta Khong Lam Ta Khong 1974 500 400 40.3 251 310 37 Pak Mun Mun 1994 136 280 17 300 Sirindhorn Lam Dom Noi 1971 36 86 42 940 1,967 288 Ubol Ratana Nam Pong 1966 25.2 57 35.1 885 2,559 410 A Luoi A Sap 2012 170 686 49.5 208 Buon Kuop Sre Pok 2009 280 1,455 34 1,828 37 5.57 Buon Tua Sra Se San/Krong Po Ko 2009 86 359 83 1,041 787 41 Dray Hlinh 2 Sre Pok 2007 16 85 Hòa Phú Sre Pok 2014 29 132 12 384.5 5 1.6 Krông Nô 2 Krong No 2016 30 109 9.3 Krông Nô 3 Krong No 2016 18 63.5 42 260 20 1.75 Plei Krong Se San/Krong Po Ko 2008 100 479 65 745 1,049 53 Sesan 3 Se San 2006 260 1,224 79 6.4 Sesan 3A Se San 2007 96 Sesan 4 Se San 2009 360 60 54 Sesan 4A Se San 2009 360 60 54 Sre Pok 3 Sre Pok 2009 220 52.5 Sre Pok 4 Sre Pok 2009 600 329.3 155 860 114 150 Sre Pok 4A Sre Pok 2014 308.35 4 Upper Kontum Se San/Dak Bla/Dak Ngh 2011 250 1,056.4 73 392 174 7.08 Yali Falls Se San 2001 720 3,658.6 65 1,460 1,073 64.5 Yan-Tann-Sien Yan-Tann-Sien 2010 19.5 79 Notes: COD = Commercial Operating Date
Hydropower infrastructure under construction in the Mekong River Basin Table 3: Hydropower dams under construction in the Mekong River Basin (15 MW installed capacity and above)
Project Country River Location COD Installed capacity (MW) Mean Annual Energy (GWh) Height (m) Crest length (m) Total storage (million m3) Max reservoir area (km2) Pursat 1 Pursat 2026 80 361 100 687 1,039 Charikou Tsichu ? 54 121.4 198.48 421 Jiaoba Dengqu ? 60 50 Houay Kaouane ? 24 Luang Prabang Mekong 2030 1,460 6,500 80 275 1,589.5 72.39 Nam Ang Nam Ang 2024 31 183.3 0.03 Nam Emoun Nam Emoun 2025 131.5 460.59 29 127 0.07 0.16 Nam Hinboun 1 Nam Hinboun 2024 15 79.74 33 70 Nam Hinboun 2 Nam Hinboun ? 30 155.2 38 2.57 Nam Ngao Nam Hinboun ? 15 81.1 69 438.6 2.57 Nam Ngum 3 Nam Ngum 2024 480 2,345 220 395 1,411 27.51 Nam Ngum 4 Nam Ngum 2024 240 872 74 110 Nam Phan (Bolevan) Nam Phak 2025 168 788 Nam Pot 1 Nam Pot ? 20 92 4.9 Xe Lanong 2 Xe Lanong ? 35 143 55 Xekong A (DS) Xekong 2025 86 334.7 8.5 95.03 25.4 Xekong 4B (DS) Xekong 2027 175 801 117 1,004.7 22.4
Notes: COD = Commercial Operating Date
Environmental impacts of Mekong hydropower