Laos is facing potentially crippling electricity shortages to power growth in the heavy processing industry, despite being a major electricity exporter.
Lao Cement Production Group has made an official request to the government to ensure a sufficient supply of electricity be allocated for their cement processing plant in Luang Prabang, and new cement processing plants that will be built in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, and in Saravan province.
It is impossible for the cement processing plants to use diesel-run electricity generators, because the high cost of diesel would make the price of Lao cement uncompetitive.
At present, there are six cement processing plants in the country with a production capacity of about 1.5 million tonnes per year. Investors plan to construct more factories as demand for construction materials in the country increases.
Laos still imports cement from Thailand to build major construction projects such as hydropower plants.
Investment Promotion Department Director General, Mr Houmpheng Souralay, admitted that many investors were complaining about the high price of electricity in Laos, which is forcing production costs in Laos above those of neighbouring countries.
Investors want the government to charge less for electricity to boost the heavy processing industry, creating jobs and income for Lao people.
Electricite du Laos Director General, Mr Khammany Inthirath, said it was company policy only to provide cheaper than normal electricity for major processing plants in accordance with government policy.
But electricity officials said that despite Laos being the largest electricity exporter in the region, it is still facing a shortage of domestic power supply.
They said that if the problem was not resolved, Laos businesses would have to start re-importing electricity from neighbouring countries, forcing production costs higher still.
The Thai government currently imports a large amount of reserve electricity to accommodate growing industry in the country.
At present, Laos has about 10 hydropower plants including the 1,088 MW Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant in the central province of Khammuan that are operational. Most of these plants export power to Thailand, while only a minor portion is reserved for domestic consumption.
Another three plants - the Nam Ngum 2 and Nam Lik 1-2 in Vientiane province, and the Nam Nhone plant in Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces - are expected to begin commercial operation this year.
Another 17 plants are in the early planning stages, and a further 45 more are undergoing feasibility studies.
The government plans to turn Laos into the “battery of Asean” when the planned hydropower plants come on line in the future.
According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the power sector has been the main driver of the Lao economy over the past decade. Investment in the sector has reached about US$4.1 billion since 2001.
build all the damp you want if you don't have mordernize power generator ,tranformer and qualifies electric engineer. the power still going to be off and on. I guess the lao ministry of investment forgot to think about that hahaha. people who invest in that would use thier own employee .
Day dreamers just keep on dreaming - there should be a law to fire or to make those who make big talks accountable for their crappy dreamy talks. These kind of people only turn the lao country into a laughing stock of the world. This whole thing just reminds me of a lao folklore tale about a toad so small but wants to make itself as big as a cow. You know what the end result is.... Laos is still in need of lots and lots of highly qualified manpower in the engeneering field, such as in electrical and computer science, I mean those with advanced degrees plus years of experiences...
Typical Lao Patikan negative sentiment and bitterness. Everything takes time. If the Lao Government choice to do nothing because of the fear of failure then Lao PDR would never have experience in anything.
The Lao Hydro Project is still in its infancy. We're still in the construction phases. Of course once we get everything moving along, there will be emphasis on the domestic market.
Anonymous wrote:
Day dreamers just keep on dreaming - there should be a law to fire or to make those who make big talks accountable for their crappy dreamy talks. These kind of people only turn the lao country into a laughing stock of the world. This whole thing just reminds me of a lao folklore tale about a toad so small but wants to make itself as big as a cow. You know what the end result is.... Laos is still in need of lots and lots of highly qualified manpower in the engeneering field, such as in electrical and computer science, I mean those with advanced degrees plus years of experiences...
typical commy, can not handle critic only take compliment. Yeah we patikan and proud of it . You don't even know what it mean. Even the father of communist it self felt .
typical commy, can not handle critic only take compliment. Yeah we patikan and proud of it . You don't even know what it mean. Even the father of communist it self felt .
The first communism from Paris France, you know The second communist is usa. The third communist is russia.
Laos is facing potentially crippling electricity shortages to power growth in the heavy processing industry, despite being a major electricity exporter.
Lao Cement Production Group has made an official request to the government to ensure a sufficient supply of electricity be allocated for their cement processing plant in Luang Prabang, and new cement processing plants that will be built in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, and in Saravan province.
It is impossible for the cement processing plants to use diesel-run electricity generators, because the high cost of diesel would make the price of Lao cement uncompetitive.
At present, there are six cement processing plants in the country with a production capacity of about 1.5 million tonnes per year. Investors plan to construct more factories as demand for construction materials in the country increases.
Laos still imports cement from Thailand to build major construction projects such as hydropower plants.
Investment Promotion Department Director General, Mr Houmpheng Souralay, admitted that many investors were complaining about the high price of electricity in Laos, which is forcing production costs in Laos above those of neighbouring countries.
Investors want the government to charge less for electricity to boost the heavy processing industry, creating jobs and income for Lao people.
Electricite du Laos Director General, Mr Khammany Inthirath, said it was company policy only to provide cheaper than normal electricity for major processing plants in accordance with government policy.
But electricity officials said that despite Laos being the largest electricity exporter in the region, it is still facing a shortage of domestic power supply.
They said that if the problem was not resolved, Laos businesses would have to start re-importing electricity from neighbouring countries, forcing production costs higher still.
The Thai government currently imports a large amount of reserve electricity to accommodate growing industry in the country.
At present, Laos has about 10 hydropower plants including the 1,088 MW Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant in the central province of Khammuan that are operational. Most of these plants export power to Thailand, while only a minor portion is reserved for domestic consumption.
Another three plants - the Nam Ngum 2 and Nam Lik 1-2 in Vientiane province, and the Nam Nhone plant in Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces - are expected to begin commercial operation this year.
Another 17 plants are in the early planning stages, and a further 45 more are undergoing feasibility studies.
The government plans to turn Laos into the “battery of Asean” when the planned hydropower plants come on line in the future.
According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the power sector has been the main driver of the Lao economy over the past decade. Investment in the sector has reached about US$4.1 billion since 2001.
I agree with Lao government to build the dam ,hydropower, for Lao people , and 5 neighbor country, the future every country need more energy power for bussiness, To day anything to shive, if next tens year anything to expenshive for cunstruction...
from; www.forbes.com
He want it all inside the cash machine. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You Lao Patikan are on the endangered species list. Washington, your former backer and employer are currently shifting their policy and engaging Lao PDR. You Lao Patikan are nothing but a source of embarrassment for Washington.
Anonymous wrote:
typical commy, can not handle critic only take compliment. Yeah we patikan and proud of it . You don't even know what it mean. Even the father of communist it self felt .
It takes a while to build these new sources of energy but they have to be planned this early. Electricity shortages are becoming more common anywhere in Asia. And the current dry spell everywhere doesn't help.
