PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Saturday that the country supported Laos for the construction project of controversial 260-megawatt Don Sahong hydropower dam on the lower Mekong River.
Hun Sen made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Laos National Assembly president Pany Yathotou, according to Kao Kim Hourn, a minister attached to the prime minister.
"In energy cooperation, the prime minister told Pany that the Royal Government of Cambodia supported Laos for the construction of Don Sahong hydropower dam," he told reporters after the meeting.
He added that Laos has promised to sell low-cost electricity to Cambodian provinces located near the dam.
Lao parliament approved the concession agreement for the Don Sahong hydropower dam on the lower Mekong River in August last year and the Lao government announced earlier this month its plans to begin constructing the dam, which is located about 2 km upstream from Cambodia's border.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has said that the dam would pose a serious threat to the existence of biodiversity on the Mekong River such as rarely dolphin species and fishery resources, which are vital to millions of people in downstream Cambodia and Vietnam.
