VIENTIANE: Laos is on track to launch its first wind farm – and the largest in South-East Asia – by the end of this year, with all 133 turbines for the project now fully installed.
The 600-MW Monsoon Wind Power Project, valued at US$930 million, spans 68,000 hectares across Dakcheung district in Xekong province and Sanxay district in Attapeu province. The project is the region’s first wind energy initiative covering more than one province.
Electricity generated by the project will be exported to Vietnam under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The power will be transmitted via a 500-kilovolt power line.
The project is led by Impact Energy Asia Development Co Ltd, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lao government in 2011 to assess the feasibility of the venture.
Work on the project officially progressed in 2022 after the signing of a concession agreement and it is now operated by Monsoon Wind Power Company Limited.
ACEN, the Ayala Group’s renewable energy platform, announced the completion of turbine installation on May 19. The company holds a 25 per cent economic interest in the joint venture, construction of which began in March 2023.
The wind farm comprises turbines with tower heights of 110 metres and 140 metres, strategically positioned based on wind data collected over eight years, from 2015 to 2023.
The Monsoon Wind Power Project is not only a landmark energy initiative for Laos but also a symbol of hope and progress. The project is committed to supporting sustainable development across all sectors, promoting tourism, and creating employment opportunities for local communities.
The company regularly undertakes a wide range of social assistance activities in fields such as agriculture, education and healthcare.
As a strategic initiative of the Party, the government and Xekong province, the project is designed as a clean energy solution that will play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions.
With minimal environmental impact, it represents a renewable, sustainable and inexhaustible energy source.
Additionally, the wind farm will contribute to national energy security and support the global mission of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Lao government aims to promote investment cooperation and raise public awareness about the country’s climate change commitments, while simultaneously encouraging more foreign companies to invest in clean and renewable energy and other sustainable and environment-friendly projects in Laos. - Vientiane Times/ANN
