Page 7 - AsiaElec Week 08 2023

AsiaElec HYDROPOWER AsiaElec

Untapped hydro potential could

meet all of Laos’ power needs

LAOS RESEARCH published in the renowned science are contributing to climate change” he added.
journal Nature has found that hydropower could Few in power in Vientiane appear to be listen-
provide for 100% of Laotian power needs in the ing, though.
years ahead if managed properly. Existing hydro projects along the Mekong
Laos is already deemed one of the top 20 River, which flows south through Laos, along the
nations in the world with untapped hydro poten- Thai border and eventually into Cambodia, have
tial in the form of the Mekong. long been a point of discontent. Globally, Asia
Figures released in 2019 show hydropower Dams in Laos and other downstream projects
to be behind 66% of the country’s energy mix at in Thailand continue to annoy environmentalists. and Africa
present. Plans for the 728-MW Phou Ngoy Dam and
Yet, even as one of the least developed nations connected hydropower plant (HPP) in Cham- combine to
in Southeast Asia, Vientiane’s hydropower poten- pasak Province are a prime example.
tial is reported to be so great that it could also help As soon as construction plans were submitted account for
power a sizeable portion of the energy required to the influential Mekong River Commission last 85% of all
by neighbouring Vietnam to the east and Thai- year, it was revealed that power generated at the
land to the south. site would eventually be sold to Thailand’s Char- untapped
Globally, Asia and Africa combine to account oen Energy and Water Asia as the lead developer
for 85% of all untapped hydropower potential. of the $2.4bn project. hydropower
The director of the research group at the Locals bemoaning loss of fishing grounds
University of Leeds behind the report, Profes- would see none of the benefits. potential.
sor Joseph Holden, did highlight an ongoing Meanwhile, South Korean construction firms
issue with the implementation of large-scale Korea Western Power and Doosan Heavy Indus-
hydropower projects in Southeast Asia, though: tries & Construction were touted to finish con-
population displacement and damage to local struction by 2029, according to reports.
ecosystems. But by selling hydropower to nations such as
Holden did, however, say that with “careful Thailand, where regulations on dam construc-
planning and development, hydropower can tion in rainforest areas means that much of that
make an important contribution to electricity country is already unsuitable for an increase
generation. This major piece of work identifies in hydropower installations beyond existing
where those sites are in the world.” projects, many in Laos see the national gov-
“Hydropower can bring major benefits reduc- ernment as once again selling the population
ing the demand on coal or gas fired plants which short. ™

Week 08 22 •February•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P7