Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone strikes the gong to mark the opening of the first turbine of the Monsoon Wind Power Project in Xekong province. (Photo: Vientiane Times)Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao Government and NasengWayo Renewable Development and Investment Co.Ltd, an affiliated company with US’sUPC Renewable Group, on November 13 signed a Memoradum on Understanding (MoU)on a feasibility study on wind power projects in Savannakhet province as well as a 500 kV powertransmission line and a transformer station project connecting power plants usingrenewable energy in the central locality with neighbouring countries.
Underthe MoU, Naseng-Wayo and UPC Renewables will be allowed to explorethe possibility of developing wind energy projects in Phine, Vilabuli and Atsaphone districts of Savannakhet province and develop 500kV transformer stations along with power transmission line connecting toneighbouring countries for selling electricity abroad.
This is one of some renewable energy projects signed by theLao government and partners to exploitclean energy, aiming to promoting sustainable economic development and meetingthe target of reducing the country's greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
In a related move, Prime Minister SonexaySiphandone attended a ceremony to mark the installation of the first turbine ofthe 600 MW Monsoon Wind Power Project, in Dakcheung district, the southern province of Xekong, last week.
It will be the largest wind farm in Southeast Asia, with 133 turbines. Its totalconstruction cost is estimated at 900 million USD.
Hydropower currently accounts for about 70% of total electricityproduction in Laos and the country has about 10 wind power projectswith a total design capacity of 3.6 GW in the planning stage. Around 80%of the power generated in Laos is sold to neighbouring Thailand andVietnam./.
