VIENTIANE: The 500kV Laos-China power transmission line was fully connected on Feb 5, strengthening cross-border electricity links and supporting clean energy trade in the region.
The project links the 500kV Namor 3 power station in Namor district, Oudomxay province, with the 500kV Xishuangbanna power station in Jinghong city, Yunnan province, China. The transmission line stretches 177.5km, including 32.5kms on the Lao side.
Electricite du Laos - Transmission invested in and built the Lao section, with work starting on Feb 26, 2025. The connection was completed ahead of schedule through close cooperation between the two countries. The transmission line is expected to become fully operational in April this year.
The line will have a bidirectional transmission capacity of 1.5 million kilowatts. It is expected to transmit about 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year and reduce carbon emissions by about 2.5 million tonnes annually, creating a new channel for power connectivity and clean energy use in the Mekong-Lancang sub-region.
Project developers said the team fully followed environmental, social and governance principles during construction. They said route optimisation, modern techniques and reforestation reduced deforestation along the transmission corridor by more than 83 percent, helping to protect forest ecosystems.
They added that unexploded ordnance clearance areas were expanded to 70 metres on both sides of the transmission line to improve safety for surrounding communities.
The project also supported community development. The Nam Ngiep Tai Primary School was built and handed over for use, and five “CSG Libraries” were donated to improve learning conditions. The project created hundreds of jobs and trained Lao personnel in electrical technology.
The Namor 3 500kV power station is expected to become a key power grid hub in northern Laos. It will help integrate surrounding clean energy sources such as solar and hydropower, strengthen power supply between Laos and China, and improve the overall efficiency of the power system in northern Laos. - Vientiane Times/ANN
