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　　Countries along the Mekong River have disagreed with Laos on its proposal to build the first hydropower dam on the main stream of the lower river. Laos says the dam will cause no serious problems, while its neighbors say more information is needed about its environmental and economic effects.
湄公河沿岸国家不同意老挝提议在下游干流修建第一座水电站。老挝说，这座大坝不会造成严重问题，但是其他邻国认为，在环境和经济影响方面还需要更多信息。
Delegates from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam postponed¹ a decision Tuesday on Laos’s plan to build a hydropower dam on the lower Mekong.
来自老挝、柬埔寨、泰国和越南的代表星期二表示推迟就老挝在湄公河下游修建一座水电大坝作出决定。
At a meeting of the Mekong River Commission in the Lao capital, Vientiane, Laos insisted the Xayaburi dam go ahead, saying it will be up to international standards.
在湄公河委员会在老挝首都万象举行的一个会议上，老挝坚持让沙耶武里水坝破土动工，并且说工程将达到国际标准。
The Lao delegate said the dam likely would not affect the environment of its neighbors.
老挝代表还说，这座水坝不大可能影响到邻国的环境。
However, Te Navuth, chairman of the MRC's Joint² Committee, said Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have doubts. "The three countries want additional information while Laos... Laos wishes to have the process completed after six months."
然而湄公河委员会联委会主席泰那武表示，柬埔寨、泰国和越南对此都感到怀疑。他说：“这三个国家都要求得到更多的信息，而老挝呢，老挝希望在6个月之后完成这个过程。”
Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam want a comprehensive assessment³ of cross-boundary environmental effects.
柬埔寨、泰国和越南要求对边界沿线的环境影响作出全面评估。
The four countries agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting later this year to come to an agreement. Under the commission, the four neighbors consult each other on projects along the river, but do not need each other’s permission.
这四个国家同意今年晚些时候举行一个部长级会议以便达成协议。根据湄公河委员会的规定，这四个邻国在湄公河沿岸工程问题上要进行协商，但是不必得到相互间的许可。
Vietnam was the most critical of the project and proposed that all plans for dams on the Mekong’s main stream be put on hold for at least 10 years.
越南对于沙耶武里水坝工程批评最多，并且提出把湄公河干流上的所有水坝计划暂时搁置至少10年。
Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned the dam, one of 11 planned for the Mekong, could affect fish stocks and rice production. One commission study concluded the dam would affect fish migration⁴ and could drive endangered species, like the Mekong giant catfish⁵, to extinction⁶.
沙耶武里水坝是各国在湄公河上计划修建的11座水电工程之一。柬埔寨和越南担心这座水坝会影响当地的鱼类资源和水稻生产。湄公河委员会的一项研究结果显示，沙耶武里水坝会影响鱼类回游，甚至导致湄公河大鲶鱼等濒危物种绝迹。
Thailand raised concerns about the sustainability of the $3.5 billion project.
泰国则对这个耗资35亿美元的工程的可持续性提出置疑。
It is expected to produce 1,260 megawatts of electricity, 95 percent of which would be sold to Thailand.
沙耶武里水电站预计的发电量为1260兆瓦，其中95%将卖给泰国。
A commission report said the dam could lose up to 60 percent of its operating capacity in 30 years, though, because of sediment⁷ building up in the reservoir.
但是湄公河委员会的一份报告说，由于水库泥沙堆积，沙耶武里水电站有可能在30年的时间里失去60%的发电能力。
About 60 million people depend on the Mekong for their livelihoods⁸.
大约6千万人依靠湄公河维持生计。
Laos, an impoverished⁹ and land-locked state ruled by a communist party, says the dam is necessary to raise revenue.
The only dams built on the Mekong’s main channel so far are up stream in China, where it is known as the Lancang river.
迄今为止，在湄公河水系中，只有中国在上游的澜沧江修建了一些水坝。
Beijing built four dams without consulting neighbors, and plans to build four more in the coming decade.
北京当局没有跟任何邻国协商就在澜沧江上建造了四座大坝，而且计划在今后10年再修建四座。
The deadlock¹⁰ follows reports this week that Laos started road construction last year for the project.
就在湄公河委员会这个星期举行会议之前，有报导说，老挝早在去年就已经开始为沙耶武里水坝工程修建公路了。
Te Navuth said the commission has asked for clarification from Laos.
联委会主席泰那武说，湄公河委员会已经要求老挝澄清有关情况。