Xekatam Hydropower Project

The Xekatam Hydropower Project, a proposed 322 MW facility located in Sekong Province, is one of the largest planned hydropower investments in southern Lao PDR. Backed by private Lao and Vietnamese investors and seeking IFC support, the project is situated within the Sekong River Basin—a region with high ecological value and vulnerable communities. Connected Consultant Sole Co., Ltd. was hired to prepare a complementary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), focusing on regional cumulative impacts, including those from existing hydropower and mining projects in the basin. The ESIA included extensive baseline studies on aquatic biodiversity, sediment transport, and social vulnerability. Public consultations were conducted with ethnic communities along the Nam Kong River. The assessment recommended a Basin-Wide Strategic Environmental and Social Framework, integrated into the national energy planning process. Connected’s role was instrumental in aligning the project with IFC Performance Standards and the evolving Lao EIA Decree.