Asia commission again puts off Mekong dam decision

A family of Muslim fisherman pray on their wooden boat in the middle of the Mekong River near Phnom Penh, Cambodia on December 7, 2011. AP

BANGKOK—Four Southeast Asian nations have again postponed a decision on Laos’ plan to build the first dam on the mainstream Mekong River amid a barrage of opposition.

The Mekong River Commission said Thursday the countries now would approach Japan and international agencies to further study the impacts of the proposed $3.5 billion Xayaburi dam.

Impoverished Laos is eager to gain revenue from hydropower, but countries downstream fear the dam would devastate the Mekong’s ecology. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are the other members of the regulatory commission.

Its decisions are not binding and there are signs Laos is starting preparations for the project.