Nam Theun 2 dam expansion still in doubt
Nam Theun 2 dam expansion still in doubt
The Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited (NTPC) is deferring a decision to go ahead with the Nam Theun 2 (NT2) dam expansion project until studies show the scheme is commercially viable.
The company has been considering an expansion to the dam in Khammuan and Borikhamxay provinces for over a year, and the Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE), which has a 25 percent shareholding in NTPC, is closely monitoring the project studies.
“We are not sure whether the project will proceed because the NTPC is still carrying out initial studies,” LHSE General Manager Dr Somboune Manolom said on Monday.
“We have not done any detailed work, such as a feasibility study,” he added.
He confirmed that if the project goes ahead NTPC will add more generators or build a new powerhouse, while using the existing reservoir for increased ener gy generation.
The dam's 450 square kilometre reservoir (at full capacity) has an active storage capacity of 3,530 million cubic metres of water, according to the Nam Theun 2 website.
Another LHSE official said the planned expansio n would increase energy generation by using the overflow of water produced during the wet season.
“Whether the project will proceed or not depends on the needs of power purchasers such as Electricite du Laos (EDL) and a foreign country,” Dr Somboune said. “The expansion depends on how much electricity, or how many GWh, is needed by these buyers.”
The Nam Theun 2 dam is the single largest project ever developed in Laos. It has an installed capacity of 1,070 megawatts. Electricity generated by the dam reached 6,029GWh in 2012, which was 1.56 percent more than targeted.
Of the total power generated, 5,723GWh was sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which was 1.54 percent more than the target figure. A further 306GWh was supplied to EDL, which was 2 percent more than expected.
NTPC is a company formed by the Lao government and private shareholders to build and operate the NT2 project for the first 25 years.
The company's shareholders are Electricité de France with a 40 percent stake, LHSE with 25 percent and the Electricity Generating Public Company Limited of Thailand with 35 percent.
vientiane times
