Local developer plans Vientiane province hydro plant
Local developer plans Vientiane province hydro plant
Provincial authorities have given the go ahead for a local energy developer to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a small scale hydropower plant in Kasy district of Vientiane province.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was recently signed in the province between the Planning and Investment Department Director, provincial Energy and Mines Department and the Luang Prabang Teak Tree Company Group.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by provincial Deputy Governor Ms Singkham Khongsavanh.
Provincial Planning and Investment Department Director, Mr Oudong Phongphaipadith told local media that a feasibility study for construction of a hydropower plant of less 15MW would take place on the Nam Kaen river in Kasy district.
The company in consultation with the relevant sector and authorities in the province will initially survey and collect information on the possibility of hydropower plant construction and its potential environment impact.
This feasibility study will take about 18 months to complete after the MoU signing.
After that the company will submit results of the feasibility study to provincial authorities for consideration on construction of the plant.
Mr Oudong added that in 2013-2014 provincial authorities had approved private companies to conduct feasibility studies for construction of three hydropower projects of less 15MW and this was the first hydropower project in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
So far there have been 14 potential hydropower projects in the province that have seen the signing of memorandums of understanding with the provincial administration.
Vientiane province now has hydropower plants with a total installed capacity of about 302MW.
Laos has now got 24 operational power plants starting from one megawatt with a total installed capacity of 3.250gigawatts.
Combined, these are generating more than 16,100GWh annually for local and export markets.
The 24 plants include 14 under the management of independent power producers that have a combined installed capacity of about 2.859 gigawatts and 10 plants under the management of EDL, which have a combined installed capacity of more than 390MW.
