More hydropower plants on horizon for Attapeu
More hydropower plants on horizon for Attapeu
Attapeu province plans to develop a further 18 hydropower projects by 2025 in order to reduce their electricity dependency on outside sources, the Provincial Energy and Mines Department reported recently.
Attapeu has considerable potential for the construction of both small and large hydropower plants and many companies have already signed Memorandum of Understandings for the construction of these plants across the province.
During the 2016-17 fiscal year, the province had imported just over 24MW of energy from outside sources.
Provincial Energy and Mines Department Director Mr Vithaya Phommachanh told Vientiane Times that, so far, three hydropower projects; Huoay Ho plant with an installed capacity of 152 MW, Xenamnoy1 plant with an installed capacity of 14.2MW and Xekaman1 plant with an installed capacity of 290 MW, have all been successfully built.
Furthermore, there were six hydropower projects currently being built. These include; Xepian-Xenamnoy plant with an installed capacity of 420 MW, Namkong1 plant with an installed capacity of 160 MW, Namkong 2 plant with an installed capacity of 66 MW, Xekaman-Sanxay plant with an installed capacity of 32 MW, Namkong 3 plant with an installed capacity of 45 MW and Houay Sanong with an installed capacity of 0.65 MW.
Mr Vithaya said that specifically the province plans to build ten more small-scale hydropower projects and another eight mega hydropower projects from 2020-2025 in order to reduce their import of electricity, which is currently being imported from Champassak province and Vietnam.
The eight mega hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 490 MW consist of Xepian Xenmanoy plant with an installed capacity of around 80 MW, Namkong 0 with an installed capacity of 24MW, Xekong (downstream) plant with an installed capacity of 80 MW, Xekong (upstream) plant with an installed capacity of 152 MW, Xekong 3B plant with an installed capacity of 50 MW, Nam Ngon 1-2 plant with an installed capacity of 50 MW, Nam Kaphuan plant with an installed capacity of 30 MW and Nam Ang Tabeng plant with an installed capacity of 30 MW.
The other ten small-scale projects will include the Nam Thuay plant with an installed capacity of 1.8 MW, Nam Pa (upstream) plant with an installed capacity of 3.2MW, Nam Pa (downstream) plant with an installed capacity of 4MW, Nam Houay Lok plant with an installed capacity of 5MW, Xe Sou plant with an installed capacity of 15MW, Nam Youn plant with an installed capacity of 15MW, Nam Paluad 1-2 plant with an installed capacity of 12MW, Xepian (downstream) plant with an installed capacity of 14.8MW, Xe Sou 4 plant with an installed capacity of 7MW and Houay Phok plant with an installed capacity of 12MW.
Once the construction of these hydropower plants is completed, the province should have adequate electricity even exporting the surplus for sale domestically and in neigbouring countries, said Mr Vithaya.
