Energy, mining value to be almost half of annual plan
Energy, mining value to be almost half of annual plan
The Ministry of Energy and Mines expects the production value in the two sectors to reach at least 8.53 trillion kip (US$1.06 billion) in the first six months of this fiscal year, 2014-15.
The 8.53 trillion kip will be about 47 percent of the annual plan, including about 5.87 trillion kip for the mining sector, according to a summary report released by the ministry on Friday.
The report noted that 5.87 trillion kip will be about 50.4 percent of the yearly plan, including the production of copper ingots of about 21,900 tonnes, copper ore of around 76,000 tonnes, potash of about 47,600 tonnes, and gypsum of about 160,800 tonnes.
The exports of the mining sector are estimated to reach around 6.1 trillion kip (US$763.6 million), which will be about 40.8 percent of the annual plan.
As of September last year, there were 69 companies operating 107 mining projects, the ministry's report noted.
In the energy sector, the ministry will try to produce 6.4 billion kWh locally in the first six months, which will be about 41 percent of the yearly plan.
However, the total supply will be about 7.7 billion kWh, at a cost of around 3.45 trillion kip (US$431.3 million).
Meanwhile the ministry will import about 687.2 million kWh at a value of around US$35.5 million.
The supply will include about 5.6 billion kWh, worth some US$242.2 million, for export while around 2.1 billion kWh, costing US$189.1 million, will be for local consumption.
Laos has 27 power plants with an installed capacity of about 3,304 megawatts (MW), including 11 plants with an installed capacity of 405MW which are operated by Electricite du Laos.
The other 16 plants with a combined installed capacity of 2,899MW are operated by independent power producers.
The output value of Laos' energy and mines sector dropped in the first quarter of this fiscal year. It was only 4.22 trillion kip (about US$527.71 million), down 16 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year.
The energy sector generated more than 3.07 billion kWh, down about 11 percent on the same period last fiscal year.
The drop occurred because the Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant, which produces 40 percent of the total energy generated in the country, adjusted its generation output and generated only 39 percent to maintain water reserves for the next quarter and because last year its output exceeded the plan.
Mining output was valued at more than 2.94 trillion kip in the first quarter of this fiscal year, falling about 17 percent from the same period last fiscal year because of the cessation of gold production, stoppage of coal production and the slump in world ore prices since early 2013.
