Nam Kong 2 project to fire up turbines in July
Nam Kong 2 project to fire up turbines in July
The Nam Kong 2 hydropower project in Attapeu province is set to commence electricity generation in July and is expected to be officially selling power to Electricite du Lao (EDL) at the end of this year.
A project contractor revealed the electricity generation plan to Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Sonexay Siphandone during his visit to the project site recently.
Dr Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation also visited Xe-Pien Xe-Namnoy power project, Attepeu provincial airport and the Lao-China alabaster mining site.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Nam Kong 2 hydropower project was signed in 2010 between the government of Laos and Hoang Anh Gai Lai Mineral Joint Stock Company.
Subsequently, Chaleun Sekong Energy Co., Ltd. bought the project from the Vietnamese company.
Construction of Nam Kong 2 hydropower project is now 90 percent complete and the company is aiming to commence electricity generation in July. It expects to be officially selling electricity to EDL in September this year, said the company's Executive Board President, Mr Chanthanome Phommany.
The project can generate electricity of 263.11 kWh per year and generate revenue at an average of about US$22 million, he added.
According to the company, the Nam Kong 2 hydropower project has an installed capacity of 66MW. It is a concrete gravity dam some 50 metres in height, 210 metres in crest length and 8 metres in width.
The power full flow of Nam Kong river is ideal for generation of electricity. This river runs around 72 kilometres upstream the dam, which give the project of Nam Kong 2 a water catchment area of around 861sqaure kilometres.
Nam Kong 2 hydropower project is one of hydropower plants that generate electrical power for domestic consumption, which has increased year on year in line with government policy.
The plant construction site is located about 40km from Attapeu, some 27km beyond Phouvong district.
Deputy prime minister gave applaud to Chaleun Sekong Energy Co., Ltd. that decides to build the plant in line with international technique by employing technical staff who has much experience and skill from abroad as consultant, which it will help to prolong use of dam and reduce risk to unexpected incident in future.
He instructed the company to work closely with local authorities in releasing water from the dam to avoid impact, promote local people to get job and manage tourism to reduce poverty of people and help lift the country from lease developed country by 2020.
