A plan to build Cambodia ’s biggest dam has raised fears of a catastrophic effect on the Cambodian Delta , which provides food security to 60 million people . A leaked report by a US consultancy found the proposed 10 km - wide Chinese - backed barrier and 82 km - long reservoir on a site vital to the fishing industry in Cambodia could " literally kill " the Mekong . About 80 % of Cambodians consume fish as their main protein source . Opposition to the original plan for the dam persuaded the China Southern Power Grid to abandon the proposal , but Cambodia ’s serious water shortage has prompted its cancellation .
A plan to build Cambodia’s biggest dam has raised fears of a catastrophic effect on the Mekong river, which provides food security to 60 million people. A leaked report by a US consultancy found the proposed 18 km-wide Chinese-backed barrier and 82 km-long reservoir on a site vital to the fishing industry in Cambodia could "literally kill" the Mekong. About 80% of Cambodians consume fish as their main protein source. Opposition to the original plan for the dam persuaded the China Southern Power Grid to abandon the proposal, but Cambodia’s serious energy shortage has prompted its revival.