Vientiane (VNA) - The ADB said in a recent report that Laos has madesolid progress towards achieving its nationally determined contributions (NDCs)under the Paris Agreement, aimed at achieving net-zero emission.
The ADB’s Asian Development Outlook 2022 noted that Laosis committed to further promoting renewable energy and investments in low-carbonsectors to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
According to the report, strong foreign privateinvestment inflows are expected to support the development and supply oflow-carbon electricity and grid connectivity in Laos for export markets.
It cited as examples plans on wind farm investments of1.6 gigawatts, including a 600-megawatt (MW) Monsoon Wind project in Xekong andAttapeu provinces that will export energy to Vietnam.
These investments are expected to become one of theworld’s largest wind farms and provide over 90 million tonnes of carbon savingover their life.
The report also mentioned the Lao government’s plan toincrease the share of solar power in its energy mix to almost 25 percent by 2025,from under 1 percent at present.
The government has given the green light for investorsto develop a number of solar projects, with some currently carrying outfeasibility studies.
According to the ADB, although Laos’ emissions are lowcompared with other Southeast Asian economies, industrial development andincreasing consumption are nevertheless contributing to growing emissions./.