DHI (the Danish water consultancy) has, at the request of Vietnam, studied the water in the Mekong Delta for nutrients. The test concluded that vital vitamens and minerals crucial for fish and the growth of rice are experiencing a steep drop in the Mekong waters.
The cause for the change in Mekong’s ecosystem is the expansion of a large dam in Laos. The dam is trapping sediments in the river, making it hard for fish to live there and rice to receive the minerals it needs to grow properly.
The Vietnamese government has called for Laos to halt the expansion of the dam – a request that has been denied so far.
DHI predicts losses of up to 760 million dollars for Vietnam, as well as 450 million dollars for Cambodia if no change is done.
