On February 10 Vietnam handed over the Sekaman hydro-power project No. 1 to Laos for a duration of 30 years.

An agreement to this effect was signed in Vientiane by the Laotian Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmi Phomvisay and General Director of the Sekaman hydro-power project No.1, Nguyen Xuan Hien.

The project is under the energy cooperation progamme, which will supply power for consumers and industry in southern Laos .

The project includes the Sekaman hydro-power plant No. 1 and the Sekaman Sansay hydro-power plant in Sansay district, Attapeu province, 75km from Vietnam .

The two power stations have a combined capacity of 322 MW and cost a total investment capital of 441.6 million USD.

They are expected to begin operating in 2015 and will provide 20 percent of their output to Laos with the remaining exported to Vietnam. /.