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Energy Sector >> Energy Resources |
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| Energy Resources |
Lao PDR is endowed with significant indigenous energy resources. Energy use within the country is still dominated by the use of fuelwood which accounts for about 90% of total energy requirements.
Hydropower is the most abundant and cost-effective energy source with a theoretical hydroelectric potential of about 26,500 MW excluding mainstream Mekong. Of this, about 18,000 MW is technically exploitable, with 12,500 MW found in the major Mekong sub-basins and the remainder in minor Mekong or non-Mekong basins. In addition, important lignite and coal deposits have also been disc-
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-overed and exploration for oil and gas is in progress.
Less than 2% of the country's hydropower potential has been developed over the last 30 years, but under present GOL policy the rate of development will accelerate to supply electricity to the rapidly growing economies of the region. Agreements for future hyrdopower exports are in place with Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. In addition to international supply commitments, domestic energy consumption is growing at 8% to 10% annually.
A number of promising sites have been studied and many projects identified. Some are to be developed by GOL with multilateral support but the greater activity, in terms of both the number and size of the projects, is to be found among private sector (IPP ) groups.
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| Energy Reserves |
| Resources |
Potential for use in power generation |
| Hydropower |
Exploitable hydropower potential, is estimated at around 23,000 MW |
| Coal & lignite |
Sufficient lignite reserves for about 2,000 MW installed capacity.
Anthracite & bituminous, possible long-term option for around 500 MW, depending on results of exploration |
| Biomass |
Wood-fired cogeneration (heat & power) plants could be economic for self-supply in wood processing facilities but uneconomic for large-scale export plants |
| Oil & Gas |
Possibly in longer term (10-15 years), if sufficient reserves found |
| Solar |
Photovoltaic modules already used for small-scale remote applications. Current costs of large-scale solar thermal or photovoltaic power make plants unfeasible |
| Wind |
Limited potential due to low average winds speeds and high unit costs |
| Geothermal |
No significant known reserves and therefore limited potential for power generation |
| Uranium |
No known reserves of uranium |
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