VIENTIANE, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) — Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath told the National Assembly that inspection teams have completed checks on 20 dams with another 50 yet to be carried out, and the teams plan to finish their work at all dams by 2021. The Ministry of Energy and Mines is working […]

BANGKOK — It wasn’t a flood. It was a tsunami, Premrudee Daorung said of the wall of water that tore through the forests of Laos’ Attapeu province, snapping timber like matchsticks and flattening entire villages. The July collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy saddle dam in southern Laos and the widespread disaster that followed made international headlines. But Premrudee, coordinator […]

Background Hydroelectricity is at the core of Laos’ strategy to become the “Battery of Asia”. The export of electricity to neighbouring high-growth states, such as Thailand, is predicted to stimulate economic development. The average Laotian is likely to benefit from new employment opportunities, greater access to electricity and the development of infrastructure related to hydroelectric […]

Civil society groups say govt toll of about 40 is not credible, that 800 or more people could have died in July; while Korean lawmaker claims the firm building the dam altered the design and lowered the height to boost profit The official death toll given by Vientiane for the dam disaster in southern Laos […]

Analysts predict increasing difficulty with mounting loans from China BANGKOK — In its rush to become the “battery” of Southeast Asia, Laos is accepting more Chinese loans to build dams, ensuring the already debt-strapped country falls ever deeper into China’s pocket. The landlocked country’s latest dam project is the groundwork for the $2.1 billion Pak Lay hydropower scheme on […]

Laos intends to complete 12 new hydropower dam projects in 2019 with a total capacity of 1,950 megawatts, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday, quoting local media. Some 80% of the electricity produced by the plants, or 1,570 megawatts, will be exported to Thailand, while the rest is earmarked for domestic consumption. Laos currently has […]

The event, the second of its kind so far, was chaired by Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Mekong Commission. Participants were updated on the progress of the Mekong River Commission (MRC)’s technical assessment report on documents related to the project. Experts also gave […]

This was the Xayaburi Dam a year ago as it started to get ready for testing. Tests are running well ahead of schedule. (Photo provided) The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is planning to accelerate power distribution from the Xayaburi hydroelectric power project in Laos ahead of schedule as the regulator wants to curb the overall […]

Residents along the Mekong River and local NGOs are increasingly concerned about migrant fish swimways in transboundary waters after learning of the Lao government’s plan to begin construction of the Pak Lay hydropower dam in 2022. Ngach Samin, the president of the Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association based in Stung Treng province, said the Xe Pian […]

VIENTIANE, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — Lao government officials are learning the numerous benefits of biogas during a course in capital Vientiane supported by China’s Ministry of Commerce. The opening ceremony of a biogas pit was held on Wednesday in Xaythany district, Lao capital Vientiane and chaired by Vice-chairman of the Laos-China Cooperation Commission under Lao […]