Hongsa first unit begins generating power
Hongsa first unit begins generating power
The first unit of the Hongsa Lignite Power Plant in Xayaboury province has begun generating electricity after the project began construction in 2010.
The official start of generating was organised yesterday according to the Hongsa Power Company programme.
The company hopes that the second unit on the plant will commence power generation in November of this year and the third unit in March of 2016.
The project is expected to produce 1,878 MW of capacity, of which 1,473MW will be sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and 100MW to Electricite du Laos.
The Lao government has granted a 25 year concession to the Hongsa Power Company for electricity generation from 2016 to 2041.
This is the first lignite thermal power plant in Laos and it has required a total investment of US$3.7 billion, jointly provided by Banpu Power Limited, Ratchabury Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited and Lao Holding State Enterprise.
The government believes a project of this scale will yield high revenue while providing Lao people with jobs and income, one of the main factors in helping them to escape from poverty.
