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New Energy Geographies: Powershed Politics and Hydropower Decision Making in Yunnan, China

New Energy Geographies: Powershed Politics and Hydropower Decision Making in Yunnan, China. Reflection on methods and analysis Darrin Magee dmagee@u.washington.edu. Presentation Outline. Overview of Study Objectives, Theoretical Framework Methodological Lessons Finding a host danwei

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New Energy Geographies: Powershed Politics and Hydropower Decision Making in Yunnan, China

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  1. New Energy Geographies: Powershed Politics and Hydropower Decision Making in Yunnan, China Reflection on methods and analysis Darrin Magee dmagee@u.washington.edu

  2. Presentation Outline • Overview of Study • Objectives, Theoretical Framework • Methodological Lessons • Finding a host danwei • Archives, interviews, and participant observation • Analytical Lessons • Importance of “triangulating” findings • Summary of findings • Challenges of writing on sensitive topics • Questions (and maybe answers)

  3. Study Objectives • Empirical: Provide updated information on energy infrastructure construction in Yunnan and on decision-making processes • Methodological: Further extend political ecology inquiry to the study of China and demonstrate the utility of such an approach for understanding resource development • Theoretical: Contribute to discourses on “China’s dams,” center-local and inter-provincial relations, civil society, and scale politics in China

  4. Theoretical Framework: Political Ecology • Political economic factors of land degradation and environmental change • Progressive contextualization, Chains of explanation • Case studies; critique of global capitalism; multi-scalar analysis; complexity and context • Mostly Latin America and Africa; very little China • Multi-scalar approach; attention to scale as object of inquiry rather than simply an analytical framework • Attention to marginality (political, economic, cultural) • A method or perspective that demands attention to context (historical, social, ecological), and complexity (non-linearity, non-equilibrium, uncertainty)

  5. Study Area Yunnan Guangdong

  6. Methodology The mountains stand tall and upright, the rivers gallop past, and dam after dam rises from the earth. On a miniaturized satellite topographic map of Yunnan, the 39 dams that are built, under construction, or planned are shown, turning the three rivers area into a beautiful necklace of pearls (Quote from a Yunnan newspaper)

  7. “Find another project” • Fieldwork at Asian International Rivers Center, Yunnan University • Contacted director in late 2003 about project to study “politics of hydropower in Yunnan” • Email reply: “This is a very sensitive subject and I think it will be hard to find data. I think you should find another project.” • Do what any rational individual would do: Panic. • Visit to AIRC, discuss what I meant by “politics of hydropower,” go to lunch, and land an invitation! • Lesson: aim high, be persistent, be flexible, be as clear and specific as possible with research goals

  8. Research Methods • Documentary research • Government & industry publications, statistical yearbooks, newspapers & press releases • Key informant interviews • Government officials, NGO heads, dam development company executives, academics • Participant observation • Yunnan EcoNetwork; Asian International Rivers Center

  9. Documentary sources • Electronic databases • China Academic Journals database • China Data Online (statistical yearbooks) • University Service Centre (CUHK) database • Ministerial websites often house statistical data • Local newspapers and almanacs/yearbooks • Newspapers often available online • Reference managers • Endnote, ProCite, etc.

  10. Interviews and participant observation • Formal setting often best for first encounter, informal for future meetings • Go with a partner • Do your homework • Don’t record interviews • What do you have to offer? • Co-authorship • Translation/Proofreading • Collaboration is two-way street

  11. Analysis

  12. Analysis of decision making • Decision making about hydropower. • Who is at the table? • What leverage do they have? • How is this changing? • Reforms in water and electricity sector since mid-1990s have left many conflicts, overlaps, and ambiguities • Process depends on perspective

  13. Perspective 1: Hydro Companies • Formerly part of central ministry • Restructuring from 1996 to 2002 changed the shape of hydropower development authorities, but perhaps not the way they do business • Maintenance of direct connections to Energy Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, and State Council

  14. State Power Grid Southern Power Grid China Huaneng Grid Companies China Huadian State Power Corp. of China (1998-2002) China Datang Generation Companies China Power Investment Design Companies China Guodian China Power Engineering China Hydro Consulting Sinohydro Corporation China Gezhouba Co. Ministry to SOE to Stock Company Ministry of Electric Power (<1998)

  15. Perspective 2: Basin Commission • CWRC: One of seven watershed commissions that are neither local nor national in administrative scope • 50 years as technical agency; less than five as an enforcement authority • Chicken and egg: comprehensive plan vs. hydropower plan • Hydropower leading planning; authority of CWRC being skirted.

  16. Decision-Making Process from CWRC Perspective Watershed (Basin) Commission prepares comprehensive plan Survey & Design Institute(s) Developer solicits project pre-feasibility study Input from local gov’t & central ministries (forestry, transportation, navigation, agriculture water, SEPA) Pre-feasibility study approved by Basin Commission Banks and other financiers Survey & Design Institute(s) Developer solicits technical plan & feasibility study Feasibility study & plan approved by Basin Commission Developer begins work on project (bidding, contracting) Construction Companies Developer submits project application report Survey & Design Institute(s) Basin Commission approves project application report Potential State Council Intervention

  17. Developer makes initial project proposal Input from local governments Basin Commission approves project application report Survey & Design Institute(s) NDRC approves project concept Input from local gov’t & central ministries (forestry, transportation, navigation, agriculture water, SEPA) Developer prepares detailed proposal YDRC approves detailed proposal Survey & Design Institute(s) NDRC approves detailed proposal Developer submits project application Potential State Council Intervention NDRC approves project application Developer begins work on project (bidding, contracting) Banks and other financiers Construction Companies Survey & Design Institute(s) Decision-Making Process from Company Perspective

  18. Challenges • Who to believe? • Corroboration and triangulation of findings • Check your understanding with sources and colleagues periodically as you go • What to do with sensitive sources? • Anonymous and coded data (HSR requirements) • Sharing writing with interviewees and informants • What would I do differently? • Earlier interviews, build more rapport • More time in Wuhan with CWRC

  19. Questions?

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