Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement Process

In addition to the Strategic Environmental Assessment, the Mekong River Commission is for the first time using the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) process to assess the suitability of Mekong mainstream hydropower projects. The dam that recently triggered this process is called Xayaburi, and it is located in Laos.

The PNPCA was created to protect downstream communities from the negative impacts of damming projects, by ensuring that projects along the Mekong consider all trans-boundary issues.

These procedures recognise the importance of the Mekong as an integrated river system crossing through six different countries. Because dams regulate downstream flow and river behaviour, decisions made at one place in the river may impact other areas.

Find out more

• Learn more about the Xayaburi PNPCA process
• Learn more about the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
• Read about how the SEA believes hydropower dams will impact the region
• Read about the Mekong mainstream dams