Ministry predicts energy generation may drop
Ministry predicts energy generation may drop
The Ministry of Energy and Mines has indicated the energy sector may see negative growth this 2013-14 fiscal year, falling slightly by an estimated 0.5 percent compared to the previous year.
The forecast comes as energy generation in the last six months of this fiscal year has decreased compared with the same period last fiscal year, according to a summary report from the ministry released on Monday.
It decreased because in the last six months, electricity generation by some power plants was reduced, the report noted. For instance, the Xekaman 3 hydropower plant in Xekong province has yet to run according to sche dule.
The ministry expects energy generation – including generation by Electricite du Laos (EDL), EDL-Gen and independent power producers – will reach a total of 13,937.65 million kWh this fiscal year.
The 13,937.65 million kWh will include exports to Thailand and Cambodia of 11,045 million kWh for an estimated 4,121.84 billion kip (US$515.23 million).
Meanwhile electricity purchases from independent power producers and imports from Thailand, Vietnam and China will total 2,843.13 million kWh at a cost of 1,133.84 billion kip (US$141.73 million).
The 2,843.13 million kWh will include imports from Thailand, Vietnam and China of 1,107.5 million kWh at a cost of 488.08 billion kip (US$61.01 million).
The pur chase from the independent power producers will be 1,735.58 million kWh that will be at a cost of 645.68 billion kip (US$80.71 m illion).
The local supply is expected to be 3,125.88 million kWh, worth 2,072.16 billion kip (US$259.02 millio n), a 0.18 percent increase from the fiscal year of 2012-13.
The ministry reported that local energy generation was officially 7,196.55 million kWh, while 543.54 million kWh was imported in the first six months of this fiscal year (2013-14).
The import of 543.54 million kWh came at a cost of 237.92 billion kip (US$29.74 million).
The report stated that the supply for the first six months included the export of 5,590.06 million kWh valued at 2,129.2 billion kip (US$266.15 million), while the remaining 1,619.62 million kWh worth 1,037.44 billion kip (US$129.68 million) was to be for local supply, with 949,713 families accessing the power grid.
Laos generates energy for both local and export markets but must still import power for local consumption because some areas that are outside the national grid do not get sufficient electricity.
However those areas are close to neighbouring countries, from which power can easily be imported.
So far Laos has 24 operational power plants, starting from one megawatt (MW) with a total installed capacity of 3,250.3MW. 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 2,859.6MW and 10 plants under the management of EDL which have a combined installed capacity of more than 390MW.
vientiane times
