Thai court throws out decade-long legal fight over Laos dam

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (Reuters) – A high Thai courtroom on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit searching for to halt purchases of electrical energy by the nation from a hydropower dam in neighbouring Laos over environmental issues, bringing an finish to a decade-long authorized battle.

The case introduced by 37 villagers from eight provinces alongside the Mekong River primarily sought to cancel an influence buy settlement between state-owned Electrical energy Producing Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and the Xayaburi dam, which they argued had negatively impacted the atmosphere and livelihoods.

The Supreme Administrative Courtroom in Bangkok stated the case, which was initially introduced in 2012 and had failed at decrease courts, had no authorized grounds, courtroom paperwork confirmed.

“The courtroom stated the ability buy settlement didn’t immediately affect the plaintiffs or individuals within the Mekong basin,” Rattanamanee Polkla, a lawyer representing the Mekong neighborhood instructed reporters.

The 1,285-megawatt Xayaburi dam, constructed and operated by a subsidiary of Thailand’s development firm CH Karnchang (CK.BK), is the primary hydropower dam within the decrease Mekong River in Laos and sells 95% of its energy to Thailand.

The beginning of its full business operations in 2019 coincided with elements of the Mekong drying to a trickle even on the finish of the wet season. The corporate stated it was not answerable for the decreased river move.

Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um
Enhancing by John Geddie

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