Vientiane (VNA) – Laos recently put the first ofthe four turbines of Don Sahong hydropower plant, one of the two projects thecountry is constructing in the mainstream of the Mekong River, into trial run.
Addressing the ceremony, Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirathsaid that the test before the schedule is a great achievement of the country.
Under the plan, the Don Sahong hydropower project willbecome fully operational at the end of this year.
Launched in January 2016 in Siphandone area of Khongdistrict, southern Champasak province in the shared border with Cambodia, theplant has a capacity of 260 MW.
It is built at a cost of 500 million USD, invested by MegaFirst Corporation Berhad from Malaysia and the State-owned EDL-GenerationPublic Company of Laos.
Once completed, the project is expected to ease power shortagein Laos’ southern localities, including the fast growing Champasak province.
Over the years, the hydropower sector of Laos has expandedstrongly. In 2015, Laos had only nine hydropower plants with a total capacityof 680MW. The figures have now increased to 63 and 7,207 MW.
Currently, Laos is building 37 other projects with acombined capacity of 5,170MW, which are scheduled to be put in operation in2020 and 2021.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian country has also planned toconstruct 55 additional plants with a total capacity of 2,570MW with an aim toturn the country into a “generator” of the region./.
Addressing the ceremony, Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirathsaid that the test before the schedule is a great achievement of the country.
Under the plan, the Don Sahong hydropower project willbecome fully operational at the end of this year.
Launched in January 2016 in Siphandone area of Khongdistrict, southern Champasak province in the shared border with Cambodia, theplant has a capacity of 260 MW.
It is built at a cost of 500 million USD, invested by MegaFirst Corporation Berhad from Malaysia and the State-owned EDL-GenerationPublic Company of Laos.
Once completed, the project is expected to ease power shortagein Laos’ southern localities, including the fast growing Champasak province.
Over the years, the hydropower sector of Laos has expandedstrongly. In 2015, Laos had only nine hydropower plants with a total capacityof 680MW. The figures have now increased to 63 and 7,207 MW.
Currently, Laos is building 37 other projects with acombined capacity of 5,170MW, which are scheduled to be put in operation in2020 and 2021.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian country has also planned toconstruct 55 additional plants with a total capacity of 2,570MW with an aim toturn the country into a “generator” of the region./.
VNA
