Energy generation, supply rise
Energy generation, supply rise
Energy generation in the first quarter of this fiscal year was 3,495 million kWh, a 50.5 percent increase compared to the same period last fiscal year, according to a summary report from the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The report released last week stated that energy generation and supply increased sharply in the first quarter of this fiscal year.
Electricity generation increased sharply because the power plant's electricity generation in the first quarter saw much greater output than the previous year.
“The important thing was energy generation at the Nam Theun 2 (NT2) hydropower plant, which has an installed capacity much larger than other power plants in the country. This year NT2 was able to generate energy according to plan,” the ministry reported.
NT2 is the single large st project ever developed in Laos. It has an installed capacity of 1,070 megawatts (MW) and operates within Borikhamxay and Khammuan provinces.
The energy supply for both local and export markets also increased sharply in the first quarter of 2013-14.
The ministry's summary noted that the supply was 3,623 million kWh, including energy generated locally and that which was imported.
The 3,623 million kWh includes 2,854 million kWh for export, at a cost of more than 1.13 trillion kip (US$141.35 million).
“The export value increased twice compared to the same period last fiscal year,” the ministry reported.
For supply locally, it was 769.62 million kWh at a cost of about 517.44 billion kip (US$64.68 million). “The value represented an increase of about 0.4 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year,” it noted.
So far Laos has 23 operational power plants with a total installed capacity of 3,230.2MW. Combined, these are generating more than 16,000GWh annually for local and export markets.
The 23 plants include 13 under the management of independent power producers that have an installed capacity of 2,839.5MW and 10 plants under the management of Electricite du Laos which have an installed capacity of 390.9MW.
Four additional hydropower plants will begin commercial operation this year and will have a combined installed capacity of about 322.8 MW.
Eight additional hydropower plants will begin commercial operation next year, with a combined installed capacity of around 2,976MW.
Another five power plants are also scheduled to commence generation in 2016 and they will have an installed capacity of about 514MW.
vientiane times
