4 April 2018, Vientiane, Lao PDR – Today, MRC received a Notification of hydrological information on Lancang River from China – its dialogue partner – about its planned water discharge from the Jinghong Reservoir to the lower Mekong River from 9 to 17 April 2018, aimed to ensure power grid security. It is also to support the traditional activities Dai ethnic minority in China on the Lancang River during their water Splashing Festival.

The outflow of Jinghong reservoir will be gradually decreased from 1,500m³/s to 1,000m³/s-1,200m³/s starting from 9 April 2018. The outflow will be gradually increased to about 2,000 m³/s from 17 April 2018.

This advance notification is a communication mechanism built on enhanced partnership between the MRC and China, which includes cooperation on the exchange of hydrological data since 2002. Notifications are sent from China to focal points of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Joint Working Group on Water Resources, which include all National Mekong Committee Secretariats with a copy to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat.