Droughts likely to affect Laos’ electricity export to Thailand: Lao newspaper

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has raised concerned that electricity supply from Laos to Thailand is expected to be insufficient this year due to drought conditions lowering water levels in the Mekong River, the Laotian Times reported on August 16.
Droughts likely to affect Laos’ electricity export to Thailand: Lao newspaper ảnh 1Illustrative photo (Photo: laotiantimes.com)

Vientiane (VNA) – The Electricity GeneratingAuthority of Thailand (EGAT) has raised concerned that electricity supply fromLaos to Thailand is expected to be insufficient this year due to droughtconditions lowering water levels in the Mekong River, the Laotian Times reported onAugust 16.

According to the newspaper, the governor of the EGAT,Boonyanit Wongrukmit, said that if the drought in Laos becomes severe,hydropower plants in Laos will generate less electricity, reducing its exportcapacity.

After an agreement signed in 2022, Thailand increased itselectricity purchase from Laos from 9,000 MW to 10,500 MW, which allowed Bangkok to raise its energy supply from renewable sources.

Chanthaboun Soukaloun, Managing Director of ElectriciteDu Laos, said that drought-likeconditions have also affected Laos’ internal energy consumption.

Speaking at a government meeting earlier this month, hesaid that domestic energy generation in Laos has been lower than planned due todrought during the dry season and the increased demand for electricity usage.

Earlier this month, Laos experienced a deluge of rainfall which caused widespread flooding and landslides in eight provincesin Laos with four major hydropowerplants in Laos having to open their reservoir gates to release water.

The newspaper quoted Courtney Weatherby, Deputy Director of the Southeast AsiaProgramme at the Stimson Center, as saying that so far the organisation has observedthat much of the Mekong has been well under normal wetness levels this year.

“The situation improved the last two weeks due to a surge ofintense rainfall, but river levels are likely to trend downward again unlesshigh levels of rainfall continue. Drought in the wet season is common during ElNino years, and in general, it’s likely to be the case this year too,” shesaid.

She added that it is difficult toaccurately predict the drought’s severity in the future./

VNA

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