Laos' Nam Ngum II dam starts selling electricity to Thailand

Nam Ngum II hydropower dam has started selling electricity to Thailand, according to Ratch-Lao Service Company Managing Director, Mr. Jatuporn Soparaksa.

However, the 615MW capacity plant located will start selling officially by the end of 2011.

Mr. Jatuporn also disclosed that Nam Ngum 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant is currently 90 per cent completed and started its initial operation in 2010.

The Nam Ngum III hydroelectric dam, located in the north of Nam Ngum II hydroelectric dam with a generation capacity of 440-megawat in Saysomboun district, Vientiane province, has also signed an agreement to sell electricity to the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand. The power house is expected to export electricity in 2016.

He said that the largest scale of Hongsa electricity thermal plant in Laos, situated in Sayaboury province, with a generation capacity of 1,878 MW has signed a 25-year agreement for electricity purchasing with the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand.

The Hongsa electricity thermal plant will sell 1,473 MW to Thailand and the rest will be distributed for domestic consumption, and the project is scheduled for initial operation in 2015, added Mr. Jatuporn.

In addition, the company also have another co-operation project of building a Se Pien-Se Nam Noi dam in Attapeu and Champassak provinces, southern Laos. Upon completion, the dam will have a generation capacity of 390 MW.

Most of the electricity output will be exported to Ubon Ratchathani province, north-eastern Thailand, in 2017.