DPM inspects hydropower progress in Phongsaly
DPM inspects hydropower progress in Phongsaly
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad undertook a visit to the site of the Nam Ou 6 hydropower plant in Phongsaly to inspect the progress of its construction during his working visit to the province from July 19-23.
During his visit to the site he was accompanied by the Governor of Phongsaly province Mr Khamjane Vongphosy and welcomed by Sinohydro, the Chinese hydroelectric dam contractor and its technicians.
The project is a joint development by Electricite du Laos (EDL) and Sinohydro, in which Sinohydro will hold an 85 percent share and Electricite du Laos (EDL) a 15 percent share.
Construction of the Nam Ou 6 hydropower plant on the Nam Ou River is part of a series of dams planned on the watercourse under the build-operate-transfer model (BOT), which will have a 29 year concession period.
A total of US$383 million is being invested in the project. The Nam Ou 6 hydroelectric plant is located in Phongsaly district and will have an installed capacity of 180 MW with a production capacity of 739 kWH of electricity per year.
Currently the installation of one of the three generators is being carried out by the company and it is expected to finish construction and installation by September this year.
The first generator of the Nam Ou 6 is set to generate electricity by November 2015 along with the first generator of the Nam Ou 2 and Nam Ou 5 respectively.
It is also planned that the three generators will be able to produce electricity altogether at the end of October next year.
Meanwhile the Nam Ou 5 dam, also located in Samphan district of Phongsaly province, will have an installed capacity of 240 MW and be able to generate 1,049 kWH of electricity per year.
The investment in hydropower development projects in Laos’ northern provinces is growing rapidly, and is set to help the government reach its plan to supply mains power to over 90 percent of families in the area by 2020.
