French energy producer CEO visit aims to power up relations
French energy producer CEO visit aims to power up relations
CEO of Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) Mrs Elizabeth Ayrault conducted her first international trip to Laos recently aiming to discuss and strengthen cooperation with the Lao government.
Along with the French Ambassador Mr Yves Carmona, she met with several senior government officials including Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines Viraphonh Viravong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith and Deputy Minister of Natural Resource and Environment Mrs Monemany Nhoybouakhong.
It was an opportunity for the CEO of CNR to remind senior officials about the long history of the company in Laos and to express her willingness to continue and deepen its commitment with the Lao government.
For 20 years, CNR has been present in Laos through its engineering, providing expertise in design and exploitation of run-of-river hydroelectric facilities. In 1993, CNR completed a study on the potential of run-of-river hydroelectric projects. This study serves as a reference today for all planned or ongoing projects in the country.
In 2009, CNR Engineering conducted a study for the government on the hydraulic optimisation of the chain of development facilities planned upstream from Vientiane.
At the request of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, CNR is currently giving expert assistance to the developer of the Xayaboury hydropower project. This mission follows the independent expertise provided by CNR in the fields of hydrology, navigation and sediment transit. Mrs Ayrault and the French Ambassador visited the construction site of Xayabury recently.
During her talks with the Lao deputy ministers, Mrs Ayrault discussed areas of activity that CNR intends to propose to the government in order to continue long-term cooperation. For three months, CNR has had a new representative in Vientiane, Mr Benjamin Graff.
CNR offers to provide the Lao government with technical assistance in the following areas: assessment of run-of-river hydroelectric projects (hydrology, sediment transport, navigation, dam safety) in the perspective of the creation of a chain of facilities hydraulically connected on the main Mekong River watercourse upstream from Vientiane; support to technical operational activities plus development of a training programme for Lao engineers and technicians. CNR will also help with transfer of technology, raising awareness among people living near the river, pedagogy concerning the environmental impacts of the infrastructure development on the waterway and support in the search for European financial partners.
Mrs Ayrault plans to come back to the country in spring 2015, in order to implement these commitments and to continue the long-standing cooperation with the government.
