Cambodian canal could reduce river water flow

The Funan Techo Canal Cambodia is building might use up to 30 per cent of the water flowing into the upstream of the Hậu River, which in turn is likely to worsen the saltwater intrusion in its downstream in the Mekong Delta, experts warned at a consultation meeting held in Cần Thơ City yesterday.

The canal will draw water from the Hậu River, a distributary of the Mekong River, which raises concerns among officials, international organisations and scientists about its trans-national impacts.

The 180-kilometre canal will transfer water from the Hậu River to Kep port located outside the basin, which will significantly reduce water flow to the Mekong Delta, experts told the meeting.

Besides, the canal could take up to 150m3/s if used for agricultural, industrial and service purposes, or 30 per cent of the water flow into the Hậu River in the dry season.

The lack of water in the Hậu could lead to soil erosion in An Giang Province's Châu Đốc City and nearby Châu Phú District, Assoc Prof Dr Lê Anh Tuấn of the Research Institute for Climate Change said.

Besides, the canal might use up 2 per cent of the water flow into the

Mekong Delta if its three sluices are constantly opened for transportation, a report by the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research, a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development agency, said.

Tuấn said severe saltwater intrusion could occur in the downriver area, also impacting the biodiversity of the delta.

Director General of the Việt Nam National Mekong Committee, Nguyễn Thị Thu Linh, said the committee, the ministry, the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Cambodia, and other committee member countries would work together to accelerate research on the project's impacts, propose mitigation measures, monitor impacts, and organise consultation activities.

Work on the US$1.7 billion canal is expected to begin this year and be completed in 2028.

It is designed to provide more waterways to southwestern Cambodia so that its water transportation becomes less dependent on the Mekong River that flows into Việt Nam.

The canal will also supply water for over 300,000 hectares of crops in Kandal and Kampot provinces.