3 hydropower stations projects in Laos handed over for operation

On Dec 28, the construction-operation handover ceremony for the first, third and fourth cascade hydropower stations in phase II of the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project in Laos was held by video conference at the headquarters of POWERCHINA Resources Ltd, a subsidiary of POWERCHINA.

POWERCHINA Resources Ltd congratulated the successful handover of the three hydropower stations and expressed its hopes that the project department will continue to promote the construction work to ensure that the whole project is well developed.

POWERCHINA now constructs the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project in Laos. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

In 2020, phase II of the project generated more than 600 million kilowatt-hours of power, completing its annual construction and operation goals.

The Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project in Laos is the only hydropower project that POWERCHINA has obtained overseas that includes the overall planning and investment development of an entire river basin.

Originating in the area bordering Jiangcheng county in Southwest China's Yunnan province and Phongsali in northern Laos, the Nam Ou River runs 475 kilometers from north to south. It is the largest tributary of the Mekong River's left bank in the north of Laos and is one of the energy bases that Laos is vigorously promoting.

The project is being developed in two phases. The three cascade hydropower stations in phase I went into operation in April 2016, after which the four in phase II began construction.

At present, six cascade hydropower stations have been put into operation, with an installed capacity of 1.06 million kilowatts and cumulative power generation exceeding 6.3 billion kWh.