WLE Mekong
  • About Us
    • About us
      • Our objectives
      • Our team
      • Contact us
    • Our partners
        • Cambodian Partners
        • Chinese Partners
        • International Partners
        • Lao Partners
        • Myanmar Partners
        • Thai Partners
        • Vietnamese Partners
    • Close
  • Changes
    • Where We Work
      • Irrawaddy River Basin
      • Mekong River Basin
      • Red River Basin
      • Salween River Basin
      • View all projects
    • Our Work
      • Benefit-sharing
      • Catchments & Landuse
      • Gender & Diversity
      • Research for Development
      • River Food Systems
      • River Monitoring
      • Water Governance
      • Capacity Building & Professional Development
    • Our Research
      • Greater Mekong Dams Observatory
      • State of Knowledge Series
      • Water Knowledge Series
      • Irrawaddy River Basin
      • Mekong River Basin
      • Red River Basin
      • Salween River Basin
    • Close
  • Dialogue
    • Stories
      • Irrawaddy River Basin
      • Mekong River Basin
      • Red River Basin
      • Salween River Basin
      • Mekong Citizen
    • Greater Mekong Fora
      • 2018 Greater Mekong Forum
      • 2017 Greater Mekong Forum
      • 2016 Greater Mekong Forum
      • 2015 Greater Mekong Forum
    • Close

Mekong Blog

  • Mekong River Basin

Construction of Nam Chien hydropower project begins

  • Stories
  • Greater Mekong Forums
  • Mekong Citizen

Construction of Nam Chien hydropower project begins

Kim GehebMay 15, 2014Vientiane Times

Vientiane Times, May 8, 2014

A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Nam Chien Hydropower project was held last weekend in Xieng Khuang province and will hopefully be completed by the end of 2018.

Nam Chien hydropower plant project is valued at US$250 million and stretches from Keosed village in Khoun district, Xieng Khuang province to Samkothong village in Thathom district, Xaysomboun province.

The newly proposed state-owned investment project will be implemented by Electricite du Laos (EDL) with China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Company Limited as project developer.

EDL Managing Director, Mr Sisavath Thiravong speaking at the ceremony said the hydropower plant would be equipped with an installed capacity of 104 MW and is expected to generate over 450 million KWh of electrical power annually.

“Nam Chien hydropower plant is one of the government’s prioritised policies and it is also in line with the strategic plan 2013-18 of EDL and the government to provide people of the two provinces and other northern parts of Laos with access to electricity,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Governor of Xieng Khuang province, Prof. Somkot Mangnomek, Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Soulivong Daravong, representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Laos and Xaysomboun authorities were present at the ceremony.

According to a senior official from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, EDL is beefing up implementation of the government policies by investing in the installation of transmission lines, building substations and other necessities to ensure rural people have access to electricity and to meet the government timeline of covering 90 percent of Lao families by 2020.

By 2015-16 almost 20 power projects will have been completed with an installed capacity of around 4,000 MW. Currently a total of 23 projects have been successfully completed with an installed capacity of more than 3,200 MW.

The country is building a number of hydropower plants in the hope of providing sufficient electricity for domestic consumption, however the government has also asked members of the public to use electrical energy economically, especially firms in commercial production.

By doing so the government will be able to decrease its payments for purchasing electricity from neighbouring countries and as a result domestic electrical bills may be cheaper.

Previous
Story
Next
Story

Related Stories

  • mekong
    August 25, 2013
    Conserving biodiversity, sustaining Mekong livelihoods
  • mekong
    May 14, 2013
    Learning by Seeing
  • mekong
    March 10, 2015
    Work begins on 30MW dam in Khammuan
  • mekong
    May 14, 2014
    At Mekong meet, all eyes on Laos dams
  • mekong
    October 27, 2012
    Water resources to be preserved for hydropower
  • mekong
    June 13, 2013
    Natural resources could pay for nationwide primary education: Report
  • mekong
    April 23, 2014
    Nam Xong water management gives hope for other basins
  • mekong
    March 27, 2014
    Thai banks finance Lao hydropower project
  • mekong
    January 19, 2016
    Impressions from a study trip to Laos - Vo Thanh Trang
    River Food Systems
  • mekong
    March 10, 2015
    Mekong Delta building five areas to cultivate special rice
  • mekong
    February 19, 2014
    More Lao workers needed at Xayaboury dam site
  • mekong
    April 24, 2014
    More power plants to begin commercial operation
  • mekong
    September 20, 2013
    Surveys begin on Borikhamxay dams
  • mekong
    February 5, 2015
    Hun Sen Defends Proposed Areng Valley Dam
  • mekong
    May 2, 2013
    Lao officials to study sustainable hydro development in Australia
  • mekong
    January 19, 2016
    Impressions from a study trip to Laos - Truong Van Khoi
    River Food Systems
  • mekong
    January 22, 2013
    Families adjust to new life after losing homes to Theun-Hinboun dam expansion
  • mekong
    June 3, 2014
    Hydro plant in the "pipeline for Xekong"
  • mekong
    January 25, 2013
    MRC countries not opposed to Xayaboury dam
  • mekong
    September 14, 2012
    Hydropower still small in terms of global power share

The sustainable development of the Greater Mekong depends on the fair and equitable governance of its water.

ABOUT WLE

  • Our objectives
  • Our team
  • Our partners
  • Terms of use
  • Newsletters
  • Contact us

CO-SUPPORTED BY

WLE Greater Mekong is funded in part by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Water, Land & Ecosystems Mekong - footer logos
© All rights reserved - WLE CGIAR
Subscribe to our newsletter SIGN UP
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy