China has emerged as a key player in both financing and building the hydroelectric power infrastructure in Southeast Asia. China invested more than $6.1 billion between 2006 and 2011 in financing 2,729 megawatts (MW) of capacity additions. Between 2006 and 2011, Chinese investors—such as the state-owned enterprises Export Import Bank of China and China Development Bank—financed 46% of all hydroelectricity capacity additions in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar and developed previously untapped hydroelectric resources in countries bordering the Mekong and Irrawaddy river basins. This investment represented 6% of the total global hydroelectric power capacity currently under construction and 10% of the planned capacity additions outside of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

Southeast Asia has one of the world’s fastest-growing regional economies and is also home to some of the world’s largest untapped hydroelectric resources. Through 2018, the International Monetary Fund expects the relatively small economies of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar will see rapid economic growth within the region and will meet the increased energy demand with electricity from the new hydroelectric capacity. The combined percentage of hydroelectric generation relative to total generation in these three countries is expected to rise to 96% in 2030 from 80% currently, according to data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

via Chinese investments play large role in Southeast Asia hydroelectric growth – Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).