Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal Project Raises Concerns in Vietnam Over Reduced Mekong Water Flow

The planned construction of the 180-kilometer Funan Techo Canal in Cambodia has raised concerns among experts and officials in Vietnam about its potential impact on the water flow of the Mekong River. The $1.7 billion canal project, which will link Phnom Penh with the coastal province of Kep, is expected to reduce water flow to Vietnam's Mekong Delta by 30-50%.

According to experts, the canal is likely to worsen the saltwater intrusion in the downstream Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The canal will transfer water from the Hậu River, a distributary of the Mekong River, to Kep port, significantly reducing water flow to the Mekong Delta. During the dry season, the canal could take up to 150 m3/s of water, which is 30% of the Hậu River's flow.

The reduced water flow could lead to soil erosion in An Giang Province's Châu Đốc City and nearby Châu Phú District in Vietnam. If the canal's three sluices are constantly opened for transportation, it might also use up 2% of the water flow into the Mekong Delta.

Why this matters: The Mekong Delta region in Vietnam is home to over 17.4 million people and accounts for a significant portion of the country's rice production and GDP. The potential disruption to farming and the ecosystem in the region due to reduced water flow and increased saltwater intrusion could have far-reaching consequences for Vietnam's economy and food security.

Vietnamese experts have urged Cambodia to temporarily halt the project and conduct further research and dialogue. However, Cambodia has stated that it is not legally bound to submit documents to the Vietnamese government. The Việt Nam National Mekong Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Cambodia, and other committee member countries will work together to study the project's impacts and propose mitigation measures.

The Funan Techo Canal project, which is being developed by a Chinese state-owned company, is expected to boost China's Belt and Road Initiative. Vietnam is also concerned about the security implications of the canal, as it could potentially allow Chinese naval ships to travel upstream.

The Cambodian government has assured that the canal will not have any adverse environmental or ecological impacts. The construction of the canal is expected to begin by the end of 2024 and take around four years to complete. It will cross four provinces in Cambodia and is expected to improve the social conditions of the people living on either side of the waterway.

Key Takeaways

• Cambodia plans to build $1.7B Funan Techo Canal, reducing Mekong flow to Vietnam by 30-50%.
• Canal may worsen saltwater intrusion and soil erosion in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region.
• Vietnam urges Cambodia to halt project, conduct more research on environmental impacts.
• Canal project aims to boost China's Belt and Road Initiative, raising security concerns for Vietnam.
• Cambodia claims canal will not have adverse environmental impacts, construction to begin by 2024.