Lao Electricity for Thailand

[Spitfire]

Lao dam's first test energy to Egat

By: AFP Published: 3/07/2009 at 10:21 PM The Nam Theun 2 hydropower development, Laos's largest infrastructure project, has delivered its first test energy to Egat, the World Bank said Friday.

Last week's test delivery to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand sent a total of 60 megawatts to the transmission line that exports electricity to Laos's neighbour, the Bank said.

About 95 percent of production will be sold to Thailand, earning Laos revenues estimated at almost two billion dollars over 25 years, which the communist country pledged to spend on poverty reduction.

The World Bank, which is backing the development, said construction of the electro-mechanical works are nearly complete and the project is expected to start commercial operation at the end of the year.

A spokesman for the power company said last month the project was behind schedule but the company was hopeful lost time could be made up.

The development in central Laos on the Nam Theun River, a tributary of the Mekong, required about 8,000 workers and relocation of 6,301 villagers, the spokesman said.

After years of opposition from environmentalists, work on the 1.45-billion-dollar Lao-French-Thai project began in November 2005. It will have a generating capacity of 1,070 megawatts.


Source- Bangkok Post

Well, there you go, saved by Laos and France on the electricity front. If anyone ever wonders why Thailand never says anything to Laos about much.....well......then the above is the main answer, 95% will be sold to Thailand. Then the Lao government also claims it will spend the profit on poverty reduction. Hmmmmm........forgive my cynicism on that one.