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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Theun-Hinboun hydropower dam to increase capacity production

 

(KPL) The Theun-Hinboun Power Company will expand its capacity production of electricity to 500 MW from 200 MW by constructing more hydropower dam along Nam Youang river.
The Nam Nguang river is located at upper part of Thuen-Hinboun river which will be released to Thuen-Hinboun hydropower dam.
A memorandum of understanding on developing the Thuen-Hinboun hydropower expansion project, was signed this month between Theun-Hinboun Power Company and the Lao Government.
The Nam Nguang hydropower construction project is 700 metres north of Ban Thatsala village of Khamkuet district is opposite of Viengthong district in Bolikhamsay province.
At present the construction of dam have progressed many fields and it is a high possible for the construction next year.
A coordinator project of Thuen Hinboun Power Company, Mr Bounma Molakhasouk said on 18 October that the project has so far paid attention to conduct a survey and other data collection of environment impact and resettlement.
The Theun Hinboun Hydropower dam produced in 1998 but the Theun Hinboun Power Company has decided to expand its project due to the Nam Theun 2-dam construction which cause to the water level of Theun Hinboun dam decreased.
The preparation will kick off early 2008 till to September the construction will be conducted and it expects to be completed by 2010.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Govt body to regulate energy facilities

Compliance with the Lao Electrical Power Technical Standard (LEPTS) will soon be assured at power facilities across the country through the establishment of a new regulatory body.

“The LEPTS regulatory unit is key to securing the sustainable implementation of the standard,” said the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy to Laos , Mr Ken Nakamura, at a launch seminar for the unit in Vientiane last week.

He added that having the unit would accelerate compliance to the standard by electricity companies.

“I would like all electrical facilities to apply the LEPTS in the near future,” Mr Nakamura said.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Somboun Rasasombath, commented that compliance with the standard would contribute to the improvement of investment transparency in Laos .

At the seminar participants took part in activities related to the implementation of the standard, including examining example documents and learning to inspect facilities.

“This will enable us to provide electricity to the people of Laos and to neighbouring countries safely,” Mr Somboun said.

There are currently over 30 independent power producer projects at various stages of planning and construction in Laos , the biggest being Nam Theun 2.

“I hope the LEPTS will be applied to these projects under the guidance of the regulatory unit,” said Mr Nakamura.

The standard will also apply to domestic power transmission equipment, such as the 115kV transmission line from Pakxan district in Borikhamxay province to Pakbo village in Savannakhet province.

“This project, which will comply with LETPS, has a significant role in extending the national grid,” said Mr Somboun.

The launch of the regulatory unit was a defining moment as it was the first time a permanent official body in the Lao government had been established in accordance with technical assistance from another country, in this case the Japanese government.

Mr Nakamura said that electricity was a driving force for development in Laos , and the energy sector has two important roles in exporting electricity to the region and satisfying growing domestic needs.

Step 1 of the project to formulate standards in the power industry began in 2000 and ended in 2003, and saw the compilation of manuals detailing the standards, in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The standard came into effect in February 2004. The second step, again supported by JICA, was to develop capacity, improve documentation and establish the regulatory body. Work on this phase began in January 2005 and will be complete in March next year.

By Phonsavanh Vongsay
(Latest Update October 16, 2007)
www.vientianetimes.org.la

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Nam Ou hydro project moves to next phase

Sinohydro Corporation Ltd of China signed a development agreement with the Lao government on Monday for the Nam Ou Hydropower Project in Phongsaly and Luang Prabang provinces.
The Assistant Managing Director of Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, Mr Shen Decai ( left ), and the Vice President of the Committee for Planning and Investment, Mr Thongmy Phomvixay, shake hands after signing the agreement.
Director General of the Electricity Department Mr Houmphone Bulyaphol said at the signing that the project would cost between 6.7 trillion and 7.7 trillion kip (US$700 to 800 million).
The dam will be a joint venture between the Chinese company and the Lao government, which will hold 20 to 25 percent of the share.
“The investor will begin construction in 2009 with completion scheduled for 2015,” said an official from the Committee for Planning and Investment.
The company has completed a one-year feasibility study for the project and is currently analysing the potential environmental impacts before construction begins.
“Once the work is completed, the project will have an installation capacity of about 500 to 600MW,” said Mr Houmphone.
The project will sell 50 to 70MW of this to Electricite du Laos (EDL), and the rest is likely to be exported to Thailand or China . “The company is now discussing with EDL how much power they need to buy for domestic consumption,” Mr Houmphone said.
The Chinese company will operate the project for 30 years, including the construction period.
The Assistant Managing Director of Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, Mr Shen Decai, said the project was part of strategies to help supply energy to the Mekong sub-region as well as to Asean countries.
“It is also a project to create further belief in investment in Laos ,” Mr Shen added.
Mr Houmphone said this would be the biggest of four hydropower projects on the Nam Ou, all of which would be developed by the same company.
“Once these four dams are built, they will have a total installation capacity of about 1,300MW,” Mr Houmphone said.


By Phonsavanh Vongsay (Latest Update October 17, 2007)

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Lignite Power Plant in Sayaboury in progress

(KPL) More than 300 families in five villages living near Hongsa Lignite Power Plant Construction Project site in Xayaboury province might be removed to new resettlement area if the agreement on electricity purchasing reached between investor and purchaser at the end of this year.The Hongsa Lignite Power Plant Construction Project has been invested by Hongsa Company since 2006 but now the construction work is suspended due to deficiency of finance. At the moment, the Hongsa Lignite Power Plant Construction Project has been taken over by the Ban Pou Company of Thailand after Hongsa Company has announced to suspend this project. Before carrying out the survey of feasibility study, developers of the Lignite Power Plant in Xayaboury Province has pledged to provide with about US$16 million to compensate to affecting villagers for resettlement areas. Mr. Sao Khamchan, Head of Energy and Mines Office of Xayaboury province disclosed yesterday that the Lignite Power Plant Construction Project is having a disputation between owner project and customer.The negotiation of purchasing the electricity from the Hongsa Power Plant is being under the discussion, he continued.If the project does not meet agreement the construction work would be sure delayed. Now two sides are discussing on mutual benefit bases on mutual understanding and cooperation in effectively that reflected to positively target plan on supplying the electricity by 2013. The Lignite Power Plant in Xayaboury province was invested by Thai investor, with an expectation of investment approximately more than US$1 billion with capacity production of 1,200 Megawatt.