Xepian Xenamnoy dam on schedule in southern Laos
Xepian Xenamnoy dam on schedule in southern Laos
Construction of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric dam is now over 17 percent complete after work began in February this year in Champassak and Attapeu provinces.
The Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE) reported yesterday that 17.18 percent of the project had been completed by April 30. This included the main Xepian and Xenamnoy dams and five other small dams built to block or cut valleys (saddle dams).
Construction of the headrace tunnel is also complete, along with the power intake, powerhouse, switchyard and two substations generating 230kV and 115kV.
LHSE said the remaining work consisted of installing high voltage transmission lines, hydraulic steel structures and electrical and mechanical equipment.
The project is slated for completion at the end of 2018 and commercial operation is set to commence in February 2019.
The entire project has an investment budget of about 8.16 trillion kip (US$1,020 million) with the work being carried out by the Xepian Xenamnoy Power Company (PNPC).
PNPC is a joint venture between SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd (SKEC) and Korea Western Power Co Ltd (KOWEPO), Rachaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL (RATCH) of Thailand, and LHSE.
LHSE holds a 24 percent stake in the venture, RATCH has a 25 percent shareholding, SKEC holds 26 percent, and KOWEPO 25 percent.
The project spans several catchments in Champassak and Attapeu and will take water from the Xenamnoy reservoi r. “The project will have a total reservoir area of 5,360 hectares,” the Champassak provincial Energy and Mines Department reported recently.
The dam will have an installed capacity of 410MW, with 40MW for local consumption and 370MW for export.
There will be a 110km double circuit 230kV transmission line from the powerhouse to the Pakxe substation in Champassak, and a 60km 500kV double circuit transmission line from the Pakxe substation to the delivery point in Thailand.
Once complete, the project is expected to supply about 1,823GWh of electricity per annum, providing revenue to Laos through taxes, royalties and dividends.
The project will generate over 1 trillion kip (US$135 million) in earnings per annum over its projected 27 years of operation.
PNPC signed a concession agreement for the project with the Lao government in October 2012.
The government is promoting the rapid development of power plants for local supply to reduce the need to import electricity.
Twenty-seven power plants are currently operational in Laos with a combined installed capacity of 3,304MW.
Laos is aiming for a total installed capacity of about 12,000MW by 2025, a report from the Ministry of Energy and Mines states.
The abundant resources of the Mekong River and its tributaries give Laos the potential to produce more than 25,000MW of electricity.
