Souksavang-Dakbou resettlement area (Source: VNA)Vientiane (VNA) – A resettlement area for the Sekaman 1 hydropower project within the Energy Cooperation Agreement between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos was inaugurated in Laos’ southern province of Attapue on December 16.
Situated near the Sekaman 1 hydropower project reservoir in Sansay district, the Souksavang-Dakbou resettlement area has 59 houses for more than 400 people.
Apart from access to electricity, schooling and health care, the displaced will receive farm land, fertiliser, pesticides, plants and animals, along with vocational training.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, General Director of Song Da Corporation Duong Khanh Toan - the investor of the project- said the resettlement area is a significant part of the project’s environmental protection and social affairs efforts.
It is expected to help improve the living standards of Lao ethnic people, thus contributing to the two nations’ special relationship, he said.
Governor of Attapue province Nam Viyaket praised Sekaman 1 Electricity Co. Ltd for the resettlement work, environmental protection and stabilising the lives of those living in the area designated for the project.
The company is also building another resettlement area for the project.
Located about 80km from the Vietnam-Laos border on the Sekaman River, the Xekaman 1 hydropower project has an investment of nearly 541 million USD, including 53.72 million USD spent on 230 kilovolt power transmission lines.
The build-operate-transfer project is designed to have a combined output of 1.21 billion KWh per year, about 80 percent of which will be exported to Vietnam.-VNA
