Nam Hong hydropower project on the cards
Nam Hong hydropower project on the cards
The Nam Hong hydropower project in Borikhamxay province will be given to the government for consideration after the developer completed the first feasibility study recently.
The provincial authorities in Borikhamxay gave approval for the Nalin Ninthachaleunxay Bridge and Road Construction Company to commence a feasibility study for the project in 2013.
Recently the company confirmed that there is a high probability the project will get underway, according to the provincial Energy and Mines Department.
According to the first agreement between the provincial authorities and the company, the electricity generation capacity of the project was expected to be 15 MW but it could re ach 30MW after being studied.
Director of the provincial Energy and Mines Department Mr Saykham Thonglath told Vientiane Times last week that at 15MW or lower, the project can be approved by the provincial authorities but if it has a capacity greater than that it has to go to the central level.
The project is located at Khonetao village in Viengthong district, around 170km from the provincial capital.
The company is expected to spend over 617 billion kip (US$77.1 million) in funding towards construction, which has been set out over a three year period.
The company, in cooperation with the provincial Energy and Mines Department, organised a project re port meeting recently, attended by officials from various relevant sectors of the province.
Most of the participants agreed to the construction because the project will help generate revenue, especially for the province's development, as well as provide job opportunities for local people.
However they advised the company or the project developer that it must pay attention to environment impacts and social responsibility.
Meanwhile the Nam Ngiep I, with an installed capacity of 290MW, is also underway in the province and is now almost 30 percent complete.
Borikh amxay also benefits from the Nam Theun 1 hydropower plant project with an installed capacity of 650MW, Mr Saykham added.
