MoU signing kicks off second study on Pakngum dam
MoU signing kicks off second study on Pakngum dam
The government has authorised a local company to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a hydropower plant in Pakngum district, Vientiane.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed recently between Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Ms Khamchan Vongseneboun and Managing Director of Vientiane Automation and Solution Engineering Co., Ltd., Mr Senglaty Savankham.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines Dr Sinava Souphanouvong.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Senglaty said a feasibility study on the construction of the Pakngum hydro plant had already been carried out under an MoU between the company and the Vientiane Planning and Investment Department.
That project was initially named the Nam Ngum-Phao hydropower plant with a planned installed capacity of less than 15 MW. But the feasibility study revealed that the dam had the potential for an installed capacity of more than 15MW, up to 85MW.
In light of this, the company asked for an additional memorandum of understanding with the relevant ministries to continue the feasibility study and assess the project's potential environmental impact, as the outcome of the first MoU showed that the project exceeded the department's responsibility.
The company intends to carry out the project with due care in order to avoid any negative impacts and ensure that the dam is a model of the efficient use of water flow.
Under the MoU, the feasibility study will take about 18 months to complete.
The dam will be built on the Nam Ngum river in Fangdaeng village, Pakngum district, and the company will be granted a concession period of 30 years after construction.
The company, in consultation with the relevant sectors and authorities, will initially survey and collect information on the viability of the dam's constructi on and its potential environmental impact.
The company will then submit the results of the feasibility study to the authorities for their consideration.
