Luang Prabang hydro project targets 2016 completion
Vientiane Times, By Panyasith Thammavongsa
(Latest Update October 27, 2008)
A Vietnamese company is set to start construction of the largest hydropower project undertaken by a Vietnamese company in Laos , on the Mekong River in Luang Prabang province in 2010, after signing a memorandum of understanding last year.
Senior Lao officials from various organisations involved, Vietnamese officials and investors gathered in Vientiane last Friday to listen to a report of the first year of project activities since the Lao government and Petro Vietnam Corporation (PVPower) signed the MOU in 2007.
In our plan, we propose to start construction of the dam in 2010 and will start operation of unit no 1 by 2014, with full completion of the plant scheduled for 2016, said PVPower President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Vu Huy Quang.
He said the hydropower project would have an installed capacity of 1,410MW and a total investment cost of about US$2 billion.
This is a very significant project for politics, economics and society, not only for Laos , but for energy security in Vietnam , he said.
Mr Quang said PVPower had received the full cooperation of the Lao and Vietnamese governments in project investigation and data collection. The corporation had also received full support from the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group.
He said one disadvantage of the project was that it would take five to six years to build the dam.
This would not only affect the north of Laos but other organisations working in the Mekong River Basin .
This meant careful study and monitoring was required, not only by Lao groups but by organisations such as the Mekong River Commission, Mekong River Council and other bodies.
Mr Quang said the project would require very detailed specifications and supervision to meet deadlines. Because wet season water levels in the Mekong were so high, it would be necessary for all site surveys for the feasibility study to be conducted only in the dry season.
After we signed the MOU, we promptly selected contractors to carry out site surveys in the dry season, realising that site surveys were of great significance for compiling data, he said.
During the first year of project implementation, the project has spent about US$12 million on surveys, feasibility studies, project management and consulting, feasibility reviews and other costs.
We are very pleased to hear this positive progress report from PVPower. However, I want to ask you to submit a project report to my ministry every month so there is better coordination between your project and us, said Acting Minister of Energy and Mines Somboun Laxasombath.
He said it was a good day for the company and his ministry as they had a better understanding of the cooperation needed for the project to move forward, in line with set targets.
Luang Prabang Governor Bounheuang Duangphachanh said This province is abundant in water resources. We have the Mekong , Ou, Khan and Xeuang rivers, so we are well positioned to build a hydropower dam here.
Mr Bounheuang said the project was the biggest of its kind in the northern provinces and would contribute to poverty eradication in Luang Prabang province.
The Lao government plans to build hydropower dams in eight locations in Luang Prabang. |
