Xayaburi hydropower plant (Photo: investvine.com) Vientiane (VNA) –Lao media on November 30 quoted a report by the country’s Minister of Energyand Mines Khammani Inthilath as saying that it is looking to increaseelectricity export in the time to come.
The article said theminister pointed out at the ongoing session of the Lao National Assembly thatcurrently the country is home to 61 operational power plants with a combinedcapacity of 7,207.24 MW, generating up to 37,300 Kwh of electricity each year.Besides advantages in thermal, solar and wind power, it boasts rich waterresources that can be a strong point in hydropower.
The country can ensure supplyof electricity for domestic consumption and the export of this form of energycreates a stable source of income for Laos.
The minister’s reportfurther said currently Laos is continuing to develop 36 hydropower projectswhich will be completed in 2020 with a combined capacity of 4,184.10 MW, adding20,892.99 Kwh to the national grid. The country is also cooperating with Chinain the study for the construction of many transmission lines stretching a totalof nearly 62,000 km with 68 transforming stations, to be started next year.
Currently Laos isimplementing contracts to sell electricity with Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia,Myanmar and Thailand, under which it will export 300 MW through Thailand toMalaysia, 200 MW to Cambodia and 100 MW to Myanmar by 2020; and 9,000 MW toThailand and 5,000 MW to Vietnam by 2030.-VNA
VNA
