China-built hydropower project in Cambodia Guarantees the way home for fish (2)

(Photo/Xinhua)

"In order to verify the effectiveness of the fishway, the company has carried out regular inspections twice a month since the operation," Mu Wanpeng said. In addition, the company is currently planning to invite professional teams to carry out fishway observation and research projects.

Mu said that environmental protection work has always been the top priority of the project. The project has detailed regulations on atmospheric protection, production and domestic sewage treatment, soil and water conservation, etc. Fishway construction is only a part of it.

"We use underground buried sewage treatment facilities to effectively treat domestic sewage, and the treated wastewater can be recycled for gardening irrigation," Mu said.

The office and and living area of the station is like a small garden with carpets of green grass, and diversified picturesque sceneries.

Eng Phirong, director of Stung Treng Provincial Department of Environment, said Lower Sesan II Hydropower Company has paid particular attention to environmental protection, complying with all requirements in the Environmental Impact Assessment paper.

"My colleagues and I have visited the hydropower station regularly to inspect the management of solid and liquid wastes and we found that the company has managed them very well," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

For the liquid waste, the firm has a reservoir to store it for treatment before releasing it into the river, Phirong said.

"We have also taken water samples at the hydropower station for a test at the Ministry of Environment's laboratory, and found that there is nothing changed, the quality of water is good," he said. "In sum, I can say that the company has paid high attention to environmental protection because the quality of water and air there is pretty good."

The reservoir, like a sapphire in its natural settings, now provides green energy for Cambodia's economic and social development. "We must protect the ecological environment of the Sesan river basin and guard the blue sky and the green river here," said Yan.