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

  • Greater Mekong River Basin

New Nam Theun 2 outlets to serve agriculture

  • Stories
  • Greater Mekong Forums
  • Mekong Citizen

New Nam Theun 2 outlets to serve agriculture

MiaFebruary 4, 2015News from the Greater Mekong Region, Vientiane Times

Vientiane Times, 17 Oct 2014

More Nam Theun 2 tailrace outlets will serve agricultural activities downstream after the government decided to develop tailrace outlets No’s 1 and 4 at the largest hydropower dam in the country.

The contract agreement on the development of the two tailrace outlets was signed between the Lao government and China-based Norinco International Cooperation Ltd in Vientiane yesterday.

Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Irrigation Mr Maykong Phonphommavong and the company’s President Mr Wang Yuetao signed the agreement.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad and related officials from Laos and China witnessed the signing.

Once the project is complete, the two outlets will have the capacity to irrigate a combined 7,600 ha of cultivation land in Gnommalath and Mahaxay districts.

The Lao government has financed the project through a bank loan from the Chinese government amounting to more than US$103 million, of which US$31.5 million is for the development of the first tailrace and US$71.6 million is for the fourth tailrace.

The development of irrigation facilities to channel the water from the tailrace outlets to cultivation land is a government priority and included in the Seventh National Socio-Economic Development Plan.

The move aims to ensure that farmers in the two districts have water for their farming activities in both seasons, which will also support the food security programme and other commercial production.

Nam Theun 2 tailrace outlets No’s1 and 4 are part of the second phase of the NT2 irrigation project and forms part of the Xebangfay River Drought and Flooding Prevention Project.

Norinco International Cooperation Ltd began the development of the first phase (third tailrace outlet) last November, which is now 75 percent complete.

Mr Wang said his company is aiming to complete the phase on time by the upcoming dry season whilst also ensuring quality.

Once the facility at the third outlet is complete it will be able to release water to 2,700 hectares of rice fields in nine villages as well as supply cash crop plantations and livestock operations in Ngommalath district.

Tailrace No 1, which shall cost US$31.5 million, has been 95 percent funded by a loan from the Chinese government, with the remainder coming from the Lao government’s joint fund.

Norinco International’s president said the central area of Laos is abundant with natural resources, especially water, and the people have a long tradition of agricultural activities which is very important for their livelihoods.

Therefore the irrigation system is very important for agricultural development and increasing production effectiveness and farmers’ incomes.

According to Khammuan provincial authorities, farmers throughout the province have planted 74,000 hectares of wet season rice this year.

Previous
Story
Next
Story

Related Stories

  • greater-mekong
    November 2, 2015
    Recognising the excluded: strengthening social safeguard systems in hydropower implementation
    Gender & Diversity | Research for Development
  • greater-mekong
    March 12, 2015
    Vietnam has 128 investment projects in Cambodia to date
  • greater-mekong
    November 2, 2015
    Ecosystem Based Management of Reservoirs
    Catchments & Landuse
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    More investors interested in Pakxong hydropower
  • greater-mekong
    February 24, 2015
    SDC Platforms Workshop brings regional practitioners together
  • greater-mekong
    December 3, 2013
    An Explosive Mix: Gender and Hydropower
    Gender & Diversity | Research for Development
  • greater-mekong
    November 6, 2014
    Request for Proposals: Redesign and Update of WLE Global Website
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Thai delegation visits Xayaboury power project site
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Construction of Hongsa power plant going smoothly
  • greater-mekong
    February 2, 2015
    Russia, India, China to cooperate in energy, global issues
  • greater-mekong
    April 24, 2013
    Confronting Unequal Worlds of Development: The Crisis of Public Knowledge
    Research for Development
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Lao energy generation sparks revenues
  • greater-mekong
    August 5, 2013
    Women and Dams
    Gender & Diversity | Water Governance
  • greater-mekong
    February 2, 2015
    Rural people get electricity in Maubin Township
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Thailand signals plans to purchase more Lao electricity
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Deputy PM advises on energy policy review
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Work on Nam Ngiep 1 hydropower plant commences this month
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Ministry confirms energy generation to rise
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Fish Releasing Day to boost sustainability
  • greater-mekong
    February 4, 2015
    Forest cover goal possible if managed properly

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