Abstract

Much of the world’s unexploited hydropower potential is in developing countries, many of whom are desperate for electricity and for water storage to support development and mitigate climate shocks. Yet these vital projects are typically subject to extensive delays both before and during construction, which add to their cost and adverse impacts and threaten the sustainability of the project outcomes. This research focuses on pre-construction delay on dam projects in developing countries , the impacts of which include the obvious economic impacts to the countries concerned, but also the less obvious environmental, social and even secondary economic impacts from project delays such as: the stress on communities waiting years to be resettled; the lack of local investment and services; and the disincentive for foreign investment caused by a lack of reliable power supply.