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Sustainable hydropower systems

Re-operating dams in the Mekong

Hydrological alterations caused by booming hydropower dams in the Mekong River basin are disrupting aquatic ecosystems and local livelihoods, calling for an urgent rethinking of hydropower development. Alternative operating strategies of existing Mekong dams could help restore the natural hydrological regimes without affecting power generation.

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Fig. 1: Dams and electricity consumption in the Mekong River basin.

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Correspondence to Yadu Pokhrel.

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Pokhrel, Y., Tiwari, A.D. Re-operating dams in the Mekong. Nat Sustain 5, 1005–1006 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00998-2

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