Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2019 shows the view of the PowerChina's 3D printing sandbox of Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)
The first power generation unit of Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project's second phase in Luang Prabang, Laos was launched. The project was developed under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
VIENTIANE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The ceremony to start the first power generation unit of Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project's second phase was held on Thursday morning, in Luang Prabang, some 220 km north of Lao capital Vientiane.
Lao Minister of Energy and Mines, President of the Laos-China Friendship Association Khammany Inthirath, and Chinese ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong together pressed a crystal ball button at the ceremony, thus jointly launched the power generation of the second phase's first unit, on the largest tributary of Mekong river in Laos.
The Nam Ou River cascade hydropower project, developed by Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and also the first Chinese company-run project to win the development rights of a whole river basin in the country, is highly valued by Chinese and Lao governments and people.
On August 31, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the then Lao President Choummaly Sayasone witnessed the signing of the second phase projects' franchise agreement and the power purchase agreement.
The operation of the second phase's first unit indicates that the construction of the project has reached a new level, marks the delivery of high-quality clean power for Laos' economic and social development and injects new momentum into the development of China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2019, shows the view of the first power generation unit of Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project's second phase, in the project's No. 1 hydropower plant. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)
The project is developed in two phases, with a total installed capacity of 1.272 million kilowatts and an average annual generating capacity of about 5.064 billion kilowatt-hours. When completed, it can guarantee 12 percent of the electricity supply in Laos.
In his speech, Minister Khammany spoke highly of the significant achievements made in the Nam Ou River cascade hydropower project and its strategic significance in the country's energy industry. He pointed out that the project is an important livelihood project in northern Laos, which has a wide range of effects, will help transform the lifestyle and improve the local production conditiongs, will help address local issues of power supply, poverty alleviation, and will bring more investment.
The minister also said the project is a green, environment-friendly and sustainable development project, which will bring a large amont of high-quality and sustainable power to Laos.
The project, during its construction, has been addressing local issues of power supply, poverty alleviation, infrastructure improvement and other social welfare, which has set an example for other projects, Khammany said, adding that the project is a demonstration of Laos-China electricity and energy cooperation.
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong stated in his speech at the ceremony, that the Thursday's success is the best celebration of the 58th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, and is also the implementation of the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, is a solid progress made in building the China-Laos community with a shared future, and a major achievement to benefit the people.
The Chinese ambassador hoped the PowerChina to further share the building and operating experiences with the Lao side, as to proactively play the project's benchmark role in bilateral cooperation.
Photo taken on Dec. 26, 2019, shows Lao Minister of Energy and Mines and President of the Laos-China Friendship Association Khammany Inthirath (R3), and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong (L5) pressed a crystal ball button to jointly launch the second phase of a hydropower project, on the largest tributary of Mekong river in Laos. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)
Li Yanming, deputy general manager of PowerChina said the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project has brought a number of practical achievements, such as the automatic monitoring and reporting system of the Nam Ou basin, the largest tributary of Mekong River in Laos, provided data support for Laos to build a national water resources and water environment management system, flood prevention and disaster reduction, and centralized control management of hydropower stations. The project will continue to share advanced concepts, technologies, equipment, operation and management experiences with the Lao people.
Du Chunguo, general manager of PowerChina Resources Limited, the foreign investment branch of PowerChina, said that the company is committed to the intensively cultivate and invest in Lao market and will continue to promote the integrated development of the whole Nam Ou river basin to promote China-Laos power cooperation.
Photo taken on Dec. 26, 2019 shows the view of ChinaPower's Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project Operation and Maintenance Center in Luang Prabang. (Xinhua/Kaikeo Saiyasane)
The first phase of the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project, comprising the Nam Ou 2, 5 and 6 plants and having a total installed capacity of 540 MW, has started its commercial operation on January 1, 2017. By the end of 2019, the total cumulative power generation has amounted to 4.7 billion KWH, lighting tens of thousands of homes.
The total installed capacity of the second phase of the project, comprising the Nam Ou 1, 3, 4 and 7 plants, is 732 MW with a power generating capacity of 2,874 GWh annually and is expected to be completed by 2020.
Once the whole basin plants are in full operation, a string of "seven dazzling pearls" will make the Belt and Road Initiative more shining in Laos, as described in the project's pamphlet.
The Nam Ou River project, a Chinese-developed hydropower project in northern Laos, has not only brought electric power to thousands of Lao homes, but also become a new scenic spot in the country.
At the very beginning of the project more than a decade ago, PowerChina scientifically proposed a development plan of the seven-dam cascade project, in an effort to minimize the impact on the environment and cut the number of residents that need to be relocated. It has also tried to reduce submerged land, especially farm land, as much as possible.
According to the plan for the Nam Ou River project, 28 immigrant villages have been built for resettlement of more than 2,300 households, involving more than 12,600 people.■
