VIENTIANE, Laos, May 12 (UPI) -- The commissioning of the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric power station in Laos marks the end of five years of work, French energy company EDF announced Wednesday.
EDF Group in South East Asia said it commissioned the 1,070-megawatt hydroelectric power station on the Nam Theun river.
The company said the power station will supply 95 of its electricity to the grids in Thailand and the remaining 5 percent to Laos. The 5 percent of the output from Nam Theun 2 is enough to meet 20 percent of the annual energy demand in Laos, the French company said.
EDF operates with the Nam Theun Power Company at the power station under a 25-year agreement reached with the Laos government. Laos takes control over the project after that period.
Financial backers of the $1.5 billion project expressed concern over the environmental impact of the project, one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the region.
The French energy company said it launched environmental and social programs at areas downstream of the dam in 2006.
