An environmental group has hit out at the Lao government for organising a tour of the proposed Don Sahong hydropower dam site, saying it should not be trying to “sell” a project that has not been regionally approved.

“Today a site visit is taking place to the Don Sahong dam in southern Laos, which has been organised by the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Lao National Mekong Committee,” a statement released by International Rivers yesterday says.

“This visit is an attempt to sell the project to neighbouring countries in the absence of a regional agreement or proven measures to mitigate environmental or social impacts of the project.”

Other NGOs have also warned of the impacts of the dam – which Laos has vowed to start building this month – on the Mekong River and Cambodians who depend on it.

But the Lao government and the Malaysian company building the dam insist it is safe.

The Post was invited to send reporters to join the site tour but could not do so due to scheduling conflicts.