Nam Ngum 2 (NN2) hydroelectric power project began the impoundment process, allowing the storing of water in the dam, with the sealing of the division tunnel on Friday. The ceremony was also attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad. The project is being developed by NN2 Power Company Ltd, a majority of whose shares are held by Electricite du Laos (EDL) and SouthEast Asia Energy Limited (SEAN), of which Ch. Karnchang Public Company Ltd is the major shareholder. The project would undergo another four months of testing and would again official commercial operation in December 2010, when it would supply the generate electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. The project started construction in 2006 and was scheduled to be fully completed in March 2011. The project, which cost about 6.7 trillion kip (US$ 790 million), is a joint venture between EDL, which holds 25 percent of shares on behalf of the Lao government, and foreign investors who hold a 75 percent stake. It will have an installed capacity of 615 megawatts that will generate about 2.218 GWh of electricity per year. The concession for this project runs for a period of 27.6 year commencing from the end of this year.
Source: Vientiane Times
