Energy is a basic requirement of the development and it has played very important role in macro economy. Hydropower generation and its use in a wide range expected that Nepal can accelerate its pace of economic growth. During the 100 years history of hydro power development, we are harnessing only 1.5% of 43000 MW technically water resources and welcoming 18 hours of load shedding in dry seasons in spite of numbers of policies, rule and regulation, strategies and report have been prepared. Past two governments envisioned clear picture on hydro power - production of 10 GW to 25GW within ten years to 20 years has bring a new momentum. The ambitious plan can implement and achieve the goal if country has political stability, transparent and committed accountable mechanism and create suitable investment environment.
{"title":"Hydroelectricity Project Financing Model in Nepal: Need for Discussion","authors":"Rabindra Ghimire","doi":"10.2139/SSRN.2376055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.2376055","url":null,"abstract":"Energy is a basic requirement of the development and it has played very important role in macro economy. Hydropower generation and its use in a wide range expected that Nepal can accelerate its pace of economic growth. During the 100 years history of hydro power development, we are harnessing only 1.5% of 43000 MW technically water resources and welcoming 18 hours of load shedding in dry seasons in spite of numbers of policies, rule and regulation, strategies and report have been prepared. Past two governments envisioned clear picture on hydro power - production of 10 GW to 25GW within ten years to 20 years has bring a new momentum. The ambitious plan can implement and achieve the goal if country has political stability, transparent and committed accountable mechanism and create suitable investment environment.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129691255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The US shale gas revolution has caused a substantial decline of US dependency on natural gas imports and has led to a significant decrease of spot prices for natural gas at Henry Hub. Given that the recent LNG development has been largely oriented towards the US market, this was the major reason for oversupply of natural gas, especially in LNG form, and caused a spot price decline for natural gas in Europe as well. The goal of this study is to address the following questions: a) when the USA will become fully independent of gas imports and will be able to export gas; b) whether shale gas technology is likely to make substantial changes in other continents.
{"title":"US Shale Gas Revolution and World Gas Supply Shock","authors":"Y. Yegorov, Ismael Alexander Boudiaf","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.2142180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2142180","url":null,"abstract":"The US shale gas revolution has caused a substantial decline of US dependency on natural gas imports and has led to a significant decrease of spot prices for natural gas at Henry Hub. Given that the recent LNG development has been largely oriented towards the US market, this was the major reason for oversupply of natural gas, especially in LNG form, and caused a spot price decline for natural gas in Europe as well. The goal of this study is to address the following questions: a) when the USA will become fully independent of gas imports and will be able to export gas; b) whether shale gas technology is likely to make substantial changes in other continents.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"51 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115353300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-03DOI: 10.3923/JAS.2012.2244.2251
M. Ojide, Salami Dada Kareem, F. Kari, Alam Gazi, Oke David Matuin
A key policy objective of sustainable economic development, especially in any developing country like Nigeria, is to establish energy development paths that are both economically efficient and sustainable. However, this depends significantly on full utilization of such resources. Distributed Lag (DL) model, dummy variable regression model and co-integration analyses were used in this paper to evaluate the impact and sustainability of Gas utilization in the Nigerian economy. The structure of gas flaring in Nigeria in relation to the imposition of fine on flared gas was also examined. The regression results and the co-integration analysis show that utilization of Nigerian natural gas impacts positively on the economy given three-year time lag; it is also sustainable. On the other hand, although the imposition of fine on flared gas has the potential to end or reduce flares; it has not significantly led to any structural change (sliding slope) on the level of flares since its imposition in 1984. Hence there is need for government to always employ Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to evaluate its policy implementations.
{"title":"Impact of Gas Industry on Sustainable Economy in Nigeria: Further Estimations Through Eview","authors":"M. Ojide, Salami Dada Kareem, F. Kari, Alam Gazi, Oke David Matuin","doi":"10.3923/JAS.2012.2244.2251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/JAS.2012.2244.2251","url":null,"abstract":"A key policy objective of sustainable economic development, especially in any developing country like Nigeria, is to establish energy development paths that are both economically efficient and sustainable. However, this depends significantly on full utilization of such resources. Distributed Lag (DL) model, dummy variable regression model and co-integration analyses were used in this paper to evaluate the impact and sustainability of Gas utilization in the Nigerian economy. The structure of gas flaring in Nigeria in relation to the imposition of fine on flared gas was also examined. The regression results and the co-integration analysis show that utilization of Nigerian natural gas impacts positively on the economy given three-year time lag; it is also sustainable. On the other hand, although the imposition of fine on flared gas has the potential to end or reduce flares; it has not significantly led to any structural change (sliding slope) on the level of flares since its imposition in 1984. Hence there is need for government to always employ Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to evaluate its policy implementations.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"136 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116343412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We developed Dynamic Inter Regional Computable General Equilibrium (IR- CGE) for Energy and Agriculture Model that incorporates geographic features into CGE. Within the context of comparative advantage we demonstrate how the biofuel policy impact on trade and food security. We find that biofuel policy may benefit for exporters countries which mostly are developing countries and cost for importers countries. In term of geographical analysis, European Union may trading with neighbor country and independent for biofuel commodities from developing countries. Meanwhile, food security issues in developing countries may lead more fluctuated price in agriculture price than in developed countries; in supply side trade liberalization may increase in welfare export and output accordingly.
{"title":"The Impact of Biofuels Policy on Trade and Food Security in Developing Countries","authors":"B. Havrland, Yayan Satyakti","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3048395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3048395","url":null,"abstract":"We developed Dynamic Inter Regional Computable General Equilibrium (IR- CGE) for Energy and Agriculture Model that incorporates geographic features into CGE. Within the context of comparative advantage we demonstrate how the biofuel policy impact on trade and food security. We find that biofuel policy may benefit for exporters countries which mostly are developing countries and cost for importers countries. In term of geographical analysis, European Union may trading with neighbor country and independent for biofuel commodities from developing countries. Meanwhile, food security issues in developing countries may lead more fluctuated price in agriculture price than in developed countries; in supply side trade liberalization may increase in welfare export and output accordingly.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129589769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
While natural resource revenues ought to enable development, past experiences with the 'Paradox of Plenty' have shown that mineral and oil wealth often represents a curse rather than a blessing, inducing slower growth and higher levels of poverty. Many resource rich countries have high poverty rates and are among recipients of international aid. This paper looks at how lessons from successful resource rich countries can provide lessons for resource management. It also considers how international donors can act to facilitate such processes. Norway and Chile are small open economies with high concentration in petroleum and copper, respectively. Yet the interaction between good institutions and fiscal policy, facilitated by the use of resource funds, has allowed both countries to largely escape the resource curse. Both countries have prioritised institutional development before engaging in heavy resource extraction. Maintaining a broad tax base, developing linkages to the rest of the economy, investing in human capital, and engaging in political consensus-building have helped retain incentives that limit rent-seeking. Many countries facing high inflows of natural resource rents also have weak institutions. For these countries, strengthening institutions through developing the skill and efficiency of civil servants and committing to transparency and accountability can help change the pay-offs from engaging in corrupt practices or rent-seeking. Yet in many cases, large-scale institution building might be beyond these countries’ immediate capacity, leaving an important opportunity for international donors. Aid, in the traditional sense, is not the solution to the resource curse. Once the natural resource revenues have started flowing, resource rich countries are not primarily in need of further financial inflows. Fostering long-term development here is rather a question of technical support and capacity building, support for international anti-corruption mechanisms and imposing transparency and legal requirements on national companies operating in these countries.
{"title":"Benefiting the Resource Rich: How can International Development Policy Help Tame the Resource Curse?","authors":"J. Santiso, G. Havro","doi":"10.2139/SSRN.1761007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.1761007","url":null,"abstract":"While natural resource revenues ought to enable development, past experiences with the 'Paradox of Plenty' have shown that mineral and oil wealth often represents a curse rather than a blessing, inducing slower growth and higher levels of poverty. Many resource rich countries have high poverty rates and are among recipients of international aid. This paper looks at how lessons from successful resource rich countries can provide lessons for resource management. It also considers how international donors can act to facilitate such processes. Norway and Chile are small open economies with high concentration in petroleum and copper, respectively. Yet the interaction between good institutions and fiscal policy, facilitated by the use of resource funds, has allowed both countries to largely escape the resource curse. Both countries have prioritised institutional development before engaging in heavy resource extraction. Maintaining a broad tax base, developing linkages to the rest of the economy, investing in human capital, and engaging in political consensus-building have helped retain incentives that limit rent-seeking. Many countries facing high inflows of natural resource rents also have weak institutions. For these countries, strengthening institutions through developing the skill and efficiency of civil servants and committing to transparency and accountability can help change the pay-offs from engaging in corrupt practices or rent-seeking. Yet in many cases, large-scale institution building might be beyond these countries’ immediate capacity, leaving an important opportunity for international donors. Aid, in the traditional sense, is not the solution to the resource curse. Once the natural resource revenues have started flowing, resource rich countries are not primarily in need of further financial inflows. Fostering long-term development here is rather a question of technical support and capacity building, support for international anti-corruption mechanisms and imposing transparency and legal requirements on national companies operating in these countries.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"68 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122554942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-12-01DOI: 10.5547/01956574.36.3.GMET
G. Metcalf, Catherine Wolfram
We analyze how a country's political institutions affect oil production within its borders. We find a pronounced negative relationship between political openness and volatility in oil production, with democratic regimes exhibiting less volatility than more autocratic regimes. This relationship holds across a number of robustness checks including using different measures of political conditions, instrumenting for political conditions and using several measures of production volatility. Political openness also affects other oil market outcomes, including total production as a share of reserves. Our findings have implications both for interpreting the role of institutions in explaining differences in macroeconomic development and for understanding world oil markets.
{"title":"Cursed Resources? Political Conditions and Oil Market Outcomes","authors":"G. Metcalf, Catherine Wolfram","doi":"10.5547/01956574.36.3.GMET","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5547/01956574.36.3.GMET","url":null,"abstract":"We analyze how a country's political institutions affect oil production within its borders. We find a pronounced negative relationship between political openness and volatility in oil production, with democratic regimes exhibiting less volatility than more autocratic regimes. This relationship holds across a number of robustness checks including using different measures of political conditions, instrumenting for political conditions and using several measures of production volatility. Political openness also affects other oil market outcomes, including total production as a share of reserves. Our findings have implications both for interpreting the role of institutions in explaining differences in macroeconomic development and for understanding world oil markets.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"150 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116352724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This short paper reviews the role the Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) mechanism may play in providing payment guarantee or what is termed "securitization" in Nigerian energy terms as far as the electric power sector is concerned.It looks at how the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria are working together to improve the electric power sector as no investor is willing to invest risk capital without some form of assurance, that it would get paid for services rendered and even make some profit.
{"title":"Resolving the Nigeria Gas to Power Challenge: The World Bank/Federal Government Partial Risk Guarantee to the Rescue?","authors":"A. Oni","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1616916","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1616916","url":null,"abstract":"This short paper reviews the role the Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) mechanism may play in providing payment guarantee or what is termed \"securitization\" in Nigerian energy terms as far as the electric power sector is concerned.It looks at how the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria are working together to improve the electric power sector as no investor is willing to invest risk capital without some form of assurance, that it would get paid for services rendered and even make some profit.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116642117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper studies the effects of oil rent on development using a unique panel dataset describing worldwide oil discoveries and extractions. First, we revisit the so-called curse of oil, which contends that oil rent hinders economic development. Exploiting cross-country variations in the timing of oil discoveries and the size of initial oil in place, we find that, contrary to the oil-curse hypothesis, there is little robust evidence of a negative relationship between oil endowment and economic performance, even after controlling for initial income. Second, based on both cross-country and panel evidence, we find a robust association between oil abundance and population growth, which might suggest a Malthusian effect which reduces the economic growth measured in per capita GDP. We find some evidence that oil abundance increases fertility. On an accounting basis, however, migration plays an even more prominent role in explaining the oil-induced population growth. Furthermore, we show that focusing on material gain may understate the welfare gain from oil abundance, because relative to non-oil countries, oil-rich countries gain more in health improvements. These results suggest that despite the positive oil effect on population growth, oil-rich countries do not suffer from the Malthusian trap, and overall oil abundance is an economic blessing rather than a curse.
{"title":"Resource Curse or Malthusian Trap? Evidence from Oil Discoveries and Extractions","authors":"Anca Cotet Grecu, K. Tsui","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1478886","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1478886","url":null,"abstract":"This paper studies the effects of oil rent on development using a unique panel dataset describing worldwide oil discoveries and extractions. First, we revisit the so-called curse of oil, which contends that oil rent hinders economic development. Exploiting cross-country variations in the timing of oil discoveries and the size of initial oil in place, we find that, contrary to the oil-curse hypothesis, there is little robust evidence of a negative relationship between oil endowment and economic performance, even after controlling for initial income. Second, based on both cross-country and panel evidence, we find a robust association between oil abundance and population growth, which might suggest a Malthusian effect which reduces the economic growth measured in per capita GDP. We find some evidence that oil abundance increases fertility. On an accounting basis, however, migration plays an even more prominent role in explaining the oil-induced population growth. Furthermore, we show that focusing on material gain may understate the welfare gain from oil abundance, because relative to non-oil countries, oil-rich countries gain more in health improvements. These results suggest that despite the positive oil effect on population growth, oil-rich countries do not suffer from the Malthusian trap, and overall oil abundance is an economic blessing rather than a curse.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"131 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114917545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2009-09-11DOI: 10.1108/17506220910986824
Anoop Singh
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the economics of supplying energy needs for illumination requirements by hawkers using alternatives like compact fluorescent lamps battery lamps, liquefied petroleum gas mantle lamps or supply from mini‐grids supported by local diesel generators. Further, the prevailing business models like the lamp rental and the mini‐grid models, which epitomise informal electricity markets, are also analysed.Design/methodology/approach – Three localities in Kanpur city are identified and data on techno‐economic characteristics of illumination options used by hawkers are collected. To compare the available options with varying capital life‐span, equivalent annual cost approach is utilized. This is used to calculate the levelised cost of 1 kiloWalthour energy used for providing illumination.Findings – The daily user cost of illumination ranges from Rs 6.1 to 17 (for four hours) across the four existing models studied in the paper. This translates to Rs 31.3 to 312.5 p...
{"title":"Informal Markets for Electricity: Economics of Lighting for Hawkers in India","authors":"Anoop Singh","doi":"10.1108/17506220910986824","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/17506220910986824","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the economics of supplying energy needs for illumination requirements by hawkers using alternatives like compact fluorescent lamps battery lamps, liquefied petroleum gas mantle lamps or supply from mini‐grids supported by local diesel generators. Further, the prevailing business models like the lamp rental and the mini‐grid models, which epitomise informal electricity markets, are also analysed.Design/methodology/approach – Three localities in Kanpur city are identified and data on techno‐economic characteristics of illumination options used by hawkers are collected. To compare the available options with varying capital life‐span, equivalent annual cost approach is utilized. This is used to calculate the levelised cost of 1 kiloWalthour energy used for providing illumination.Findings – The daily user cost of illumination ranges from Rs 6.1 to 17 (for four hours) across the four existing models studied in the paper. This translates to Rs 31.3 to 312.5 p...","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129781819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Approximately 78% of China's electricity demand is met by burning coal, which has taken a serious toll on the environment. Hydropower represents a sustainable alternative source, and China already derives 16% of its electricity supply from hydropower. However, evidence from other hydroelectric projects such as the Three Gorges Dam suggests that the socioeconomic consequences of such large public works projects are enormous. A series of dams has been proposed for the middle and lower reaches of the Nu River (Upper Salween) in Yunnan Province. If completed, the 13-dam cascade would have greater power-generating potential than the Three Gorges Dam. However, the Nu is considered to be the last "virgin" river in China, and many of the proposed dams are located in an environmentally-sensitive area. Moreover, approximately 50,000 people - many of them ethnic minorities - would be forced to resettle by the resulting reservoirs [Yardley, Jim. "Dam Building Threatens China's 'Grand Canyon'." New York Times, 2004, March 10.]. Finally, the economic status of northwestern Yunnan is quite low, suggesting that socioeconomic vulnerabilities among the displaced population would be quite acute. Although construction has officially been halted, surveying has begun on at least five of the dams, and Wang [Wang, Xiaozong, "Quan Guo Ren Da Guan Yuan: Nu Jiang Shui Dian Kai Fa Bu Yi Cao Zhi Guo Ji", China Economics Weekly, 2008, March 31.] reports that the actual construction process has begun on one of these dams. After providing a detailed account of China's electricity supply, this paper quantifies China's hydropower potential. We then describe the socioeconomic effects of population displacement from dam development using the Three Gorges Dam as a case study. Next, we provide a detailed economic profile of the Nu River area, arguing that poor farmers from disparate language groups are more likely to face extreme vulnerabilities in the resettlement process. Finally, we employ microevidence from interviews of affected households to demonstrate that the dam construction process in western Yunnan has been neither transparent nor consultative.
{"title":"Socioeconomic Vulnerability in China's Hydropower Development","authors":"Phil Brown, D. Magee, Yilin Xu","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1135668","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1135668","url":null,"abstract":"Approximately 78% of China's electricity demand is met by burning coal, which has taken a serious toll on the environment. Hydropower represents a sustainable alternative source, and China already derives 16% of its electricity supply from hydropower. However, evidence from other hydroelectric projects such as the Three Gorges Dam suggests that the socioeconomic consequences of such large public works projects are enormous. A series of dams has been proposed for the middle and lower reaches of the Nu River (Upper Salween) in Yunnan Province. If completed, the 13-dam cascade would have greater power-generating potential than the Three Gorges Dam. However, the Nu is considered to be the last \"virgin\" river in China, and many of the proposed dams are located in an environmentally-sensitive area. Moreover, approximately 50,000 people - many of them ethnic minorities - would be forced to resettle by the resulting reservoirs [Yardley, Jim. \"Dam Building Threatens China's 'Grand Canyon'.\" New York Times, 2004, March 10.]. Finally, the economic status of northwestern Yunnan is quite low, suggesting that socioeconomic vulnerabilities among the displaced population would be quite acute. Although construction has officially been halted, surveying has begun on at least five of the dams, and Wang [Wang, Xiaozong, \"Quan Guo Ren Da Guan Yuan: Nu Jiang Shui Dian Kai Fa Bu Yi Cao Zhi Guo Ji\", China Economics Weekly, 2008, March 31.] reports that the actual construction process has begun on one of these dams. After providing a detailed account of China's electricity supply, this paper quantifies China's hydropower potential. We then describe the socioeconomic effects of population displacement from dam development using the Three Gorges Dam as a case study. Next, we provide a detailed economic profile of the Nu River area, arguing that poor farmers from disparate language groups are more likely to face extreme vulnerabilities in the resettlement process. Finally, we employ microevidence from interviews of affected households to demonstrate that the dam construction process in western Yunnan has been neither transparent nor consultative.","PeriodicalId":101533,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Exploitation of Renewable & Non-Renewables Natural Resources & the Environment (Topic)","volume":"68 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128846477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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