Developers of the Thakho hydropower project in Champassak province will submit their draft final feasibility study report to the government within the next 10 days. The submission is for the government to consider following the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the project in March last year between the Lao government, Compagnie Nationale due Rhone (CNR) from France, and Electricite du Laos (EDL). The developers are still unable to provide an estimate on the cost of the project, as they say it will be dependent on the government’s selection of one of the options of either 52, 86, or 172 megawatt capacity, which would cost 936 billion kip, 1.2 trillion kip and 2.1 trillion kip (US$ 114, US$ 153 and US$ 258 million) respectively. The Lao government will hold a share of about 25 percent. It would take three and a half years to complete the plant after getting a concession agreement from the Lao government. Thakho is a multi-purpose project for sustainable hydropower and tourism development which is being jointly developed by CNR and EDL. The plant will also reinforce southern Laos’ grid stability during the dry season and provide revenue from power exports to Cambodia.
Source: Vientiane Times
