VIENTIANE: A concession awarded to a Chinese company on the construction of Phase I of a 1,000MW solar farm in Xay and Namor districts, Oudomxay province, is a step towards bolstering energy security for Laos and China.
Construction of a solar farm in the northern province, which borders on China, will be a boost to the Lao government’s renewable energy development plan, which aims to increase renewable energy consumption to 30 per cent by 2025.
A concession agreement on the Northern Clean Energy Connection project was signed on Sept 12 between the Lao government and CGN Laos Taven Power Sole Co., Ltd.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines Chansaveng Boungnong said clean energy is playing an important role in supplying electricity to the 500kV transmission line between Laos and China.
It is also an important cooperation project between Laos and China under the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which is the main driver of energy interconnection in the region.
It is envisaged that the project will spur economic development in the local area, create more efficient energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the friendly relationship between Laos and China.
The President of China’s CGN Energy International Holdings Co, Ltd, Zhang Chaoqun, said the agreement will strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, improve energy generation to benefit consumers and boost exports, and forge new electricity links between Laos and its neighbouring countries.
CGN will further develop clean energy generation in the north of Laos as a model in China-Laos project development under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation scheme.
Wind and solar farms will be built in Oudomxay, Phongsaly and Luang Namtha provinces, with an expected installed capacity of 10 million kW. - Vientiane Times/ANN
