Solar energy empowers schoolchildren

Children using the Youth Development Centre at Phonsinuane Primary School in Vientiane are singing and dancing under bright lights, thanks to the generosity of a local company.
More than 100 pupils at the school can now read Lao storybooks, do art projects and perform concerts at the centre in their free time.
The Youth Development Centre was built last year to provide children at the school as well as those living nearby with a place to go in their spare time. But when it was built, it had no electricity.
The school sent letters to companies hoping for donations, explaining how many of the school's activities were based around the centre, but were limited without a proper power supply, said the school's Director, Ms Phanomvieng Noypiewphan.
One recipient of the letter, Sunlabob Energy Company, which specialises in solar power, responded by donating several solar-electric panels.
Since the panels have been installed, a new enthusiasm has grown throughout the community, with teachers and students seeing the centre as the start of a new life for the school.
“The centre is not only a valuable resource for schoolchildren here, but for children in nearby villages,” said Ms Phanomvieng.
Activities at the centre take place between 3 and 4 pm from Monday to Friday and during free time in school, and also from 9 am to 4 pm on weekends.
By Khonesavanh Saymoungkhoune (Latest Update November 22, 200

a battery for the region

Much of Laos' FDI will go into turning the country into what it calls "a battery for the region", through a series of dams that will generate power for sale to its neighbours.
Major investors in Laos' hydropower and infrastructure industries include China's Sinohydro Corp and Datang International Power, Thailand's Banpu and Italian-Thai Development, and Vietnam's Song Da Group and Petrovietnam.
Companies from Western countries investing in Laos include Australia's Oxiana, French electricity group EDF, and London-listed Salamander Energy.
Laos currently has the capacity to produce 600 megawatts of hydropower, of which 200 megawatt are exported.
But Bouphavanh said the country has the potential to produce up to 28,000 megawatt of hydropower from the Mekong River and the 16 Mekong tributaries within Laos borders.
It has already commited to supply 7,000 megawatts to Thailand, 5,000 megawatts to Vietnam, and 1,500 megawatts to Cambodia by 2015, he added. read all from REUTERS

Seset 2 Hydropower Dam completes by almost 60 %

Seset 2 Hydropower Dam completes by almost 60 %
(KPL) The Seset 2 Hydropower Dam Development Project, located on the upper Seset river, 12 km away from Seset 1 in Lao Ngam district of Saravane province, has been completed by 57 per cent of the construction work. Mr Thongsay Bounthisavath, deputy-director of Energy and Mining Service of the southern Saravane province, said that Seset 2 had an installed capacity of 76 megawatts, and average generation capacity of 309 million kilowatts per hour. The state electricity enterprise Electricite du Laos signed a construction contract for Seset 2 development with Norinco Company of China in 2004. Commencing in August 2005, the work is expected to be completed by June 2009. The contract costs US$135 million, in which US$117 million is for construction work.

Vientiane distribution network rehabilitation in 1999

In 1999 the second rehabilitation project for Vientiane distribution network launched.
Under the assistance of France's government, the ETDE company ( France's company) was assigned to this project.

The bare conductor was replaced by partial insulated conductor for medium voltage. Some overhead line had gone underground.
Four wire aerial network was replaced by twisted cables for low voltage network.
The poles and transformer posts remain unchanged.

Oudomxay to increase electric users by 18 per cent

 
(KPL) A northern province Oudomxay has planned to increase the number of families accessing electricity by 18 per cent in the two years coming.
According to its plan a two-year project, launched year end, will be carried out in seven districts across the province by installing low and medium high voltage power grid, and transformers.
Heuangpaseuth Power Grid Construction and Electric Installation Co., has been authorised by the province to carry out the 70.8 billion kip project, run through a loan from the government of China.
Activities of the project include the installation of 22 kv power grid, long 267 km length, 0.4 kv power grid long 90 km, and the installation of 95 transformers including four 250-kva, seventeen 100-kva, fifty five 50-kva, and nineteen 30-kva transformers.
Signatories to agreement on the construction and installation on 24 October in the province were Head of Energy and Mines Service of Oudomxay, Mr. Khamphan Phonthasin, and Director of Heuangpaseuth Power Grid Construction and Electric Installation Co., Mr. La Khamdy.
The event was witnessed by Party Central Committee, and also the governor of the province, Dr. Bounpone Bouttanavong, his deputy and authorities of the seven districts.
“Only 20 per cent of the province’ population have accessed electricity so far, which is too small figure as compared to those of other provinces,” said Governor Khamphan.
The company said that if the project completed the province would have the number of electric users in 95 villages, totally housing over 43,000 people, increased by 18%, and it would also contribute to the agriculture production, and other income generation of the locals.