CHIANG RAI – A Chinese authority has informed five countries along the Mekong River of a planned reduction in the water discharge from Jinghong dam upstream, during electrical component tests. Thailand’s Department of Water Resources has warned eight provinces on the Mekong River to prepare for possible water shortages.
Chinese cargo ships have now stopped operating on the Mekong River from Chiang San pier in Chiang Rai up to Myanmar, Laos, and China, while some cargo boats from Laos are already stuck in shallow water due to a continuous decrease in the river level.
The Chinese Water Resources Authority has issued a notification to water management authorities in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia on the planned water discharge reduction from Jinghong dam upstream in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, which may affect water levels downstream.
1st-3rd January, Jinghong dam will reduce its water discharge rate to 800-1,000 cubic meters per hour, and will lower that amount to 500-800 cubic meters per hour on 4th January. After this period, the water discharge will be restored to the normal level. The discharge reduction is due to the planned testing of electricity transmission equipment at the dam.
Chiang Rai Provincial Marine Department has warned riverside residents and those commuting on Mekong river ferries to be on alert. The water level in Thailand is expected to decrease from 2nd January onwards. The Office of National Water Resources now expects the affected section of the river will extend to Loei on 10th-13th January, and proceed to affect other provinces downstream until 19th January. The office has already notified provincial governors of Chiang Rai, Loei, NongKhai, BuengKan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and UbonRatchathani.
