Laos hydro dam collapses while under construction with the possible deaths of hundreds

In Laos, a hydroelectric dam that was under construction has collapsed. Hundreds of people are missing and many are likely dead. Rescue efforts were underway as top government officials rushed to the site and public appeals were launched for aid.

The hydroelectric dam collapsed in southeastern Laos, leaving an unknown number of people dead and hundreds missing, state media said on Tuesday. Rescue efforts were underway as top government officials rushed to the site and public appeals were launched for aid.

Laos exports a lot of electricity from several hydroelectric dams. Thailand is a major buyer of this electricity.

The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy project cost an estimated US$1.02 billion. Much of the financing came from Thai lenders.

Deaths per Terawatt hour

This tragedy does not shift the global death per terawatt hour calculations much. The statistics that Nextbigfuture has provided on this over the years need to be updated with significantly more power generation for solar and wind. Also, there have been updates to the deaths attributable to air pollution.

The Natural gas air pollution needs to have the 1.6% or higher leakage from pipes and mining accounted for its impact.

ENERGY SOURCE        DEATHS FATAL/TWH     TWH NOTES

----------------- --------- ---------     ------- -------------------------------------
Coal – world avg. 2,200,000    244.00      9,000 (10% world energy, 41% of electricity.)
Coal – China      1,300,000    325.00      4,000  Utilizing heavily-manual practices

Coal – USA                      10.00         Mostly open-pit and u/g machine
Oil               2,400,000     52.00     42,000 (40% of world energy, 4.4% of electricity)
Natural Gas         300,000     20.00     15,000 (15% of world energy, 11% of electricity)

Biofuel/Biomass                 50.00         
Peat                            50.00         
Solar (rooftop)          12      0.1         110  (1.0% of world electricity)
Wind                    105      0.15        700  (2.8% of world electricity)
 
Hydro                   400      0.10      4,000 (EU deaths, 2.2% of world energy)
Hydro + Banqiao)      4,000      1.00      4,000 (~4000 TWh/yr + 171,000 Banqiao dead)
Nuclear                 104      0.04      2,600 (3% of world energy, 10% of electricity)

----------------- --------- --------- ------- -------------------------------------
World             5,000,000     47       105,000 Terawatt-hours
Unaccounted for      95,400                1,500 TWh = 6.00% … fatalities prorated