Law No. 20/NA on Dam Safety (2022), promulgated by Presidential Decree No. 109/PR.

This Law establishes the core principles, regulations, and monitoring measures governing dam safety management within the Lao PDR. It applies broadly to the entire lifecycle of a dam project, including initial survey exploration, structural engineering design, construction, and ongoing operations. The primary objective of the legislation is to enforce uniform technical standards that guarantee structural durability, safeguard public life and health, prevent socio-economic property damage, and support green, sustainable national development.
Specifically, the statutory text classifies dams into four risk tiers—low, medium, high, and extreme—determined by structural height, total reservoir capacity, downstream population density, and potential environmental impact. It defines distinct categories of barriers, including hydroelectric, tailings, irrigation, and water supply dams. Furthermore, the Law mandates that project developers fulfill a strict eight-part operational checklist, covering reservoir cleaning, mandatory emergency response mapping, localized community relocation, and formal readiness inspections, prior to receiving official authorization for water filling.