Saravan to receive fourth power plant

 

A Chinese company will build a power plant that will generate over 70 MW of electricity in Saravan province, said the province's Energy and Mining Department on 20 April 2008.

The National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Cooperation(CMEC) from China signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Planning and Investment on 20 April 2008 for the implementation of the xepon 3 Hydroelectric Power project. " This will be the fourth plant generating electrical power in the province; the other projects are Xeset 1 and Xeset 2, and Xelanong project, which was recently begun by a Japanese company, " Director of the Saravan Energy and Mining Department Bounma Keo-on-sa said.

He added the project will supply electricity to local makets and possibly to Vietnam, due to the close location of the project to the Lao-Vietnamese border." Not only will the plant provide electricity to locals, it will also supply much needed electricity to the Xepon gold and cooper mine. The project will bring many opprtunities to the local community," CMEC vice President Jin Chunsheng said at the signing ceremony.

He added that CMEC is one of the largest international companies in China, and was invited to undertaker the project by the government of Laos four years ago. Since then, the company has sent three teams to conduct site surveys. " Two preliminary reports were submitted to the Lao government for review and approval in 2006 and 2007," Mr Jin said.

The plant will have an installed capacity of over 70 MW, allowing for generation of more 300 Gwh of power annually. " Relising the benefit this project will bring to the people and government of Laos, both sides agreed to sign the MoU for the development of the Xepon 3 Hydroelectric Power project," Mr Jin said.