ID :
233388
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 05:00
Auther :

Japan supports power system development in southern Laos

VIENTIANE,20.03.2012 (KPL) - On March 16, the Exchange of Notes singing ceremony for Japanese ODA Loan project “Southern Region Power System Development Project” and the Non Project Grant Aid for the purpose of restoring the areas and people affected by the flood disaster in 2011 was held in Tokyo, Japan. The signing ceremony of the aforementioned two projects took place between Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Junko YOKOTA, and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Sounthone XAYACHACK, at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan. Prime Minister of the Lao PDR Thongsing Thammavong and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko NODA and senior officials of both sides were present to witness the signing. The Government of Japan will extend highly concessional the Japanese ODA Loan entitled “Southern Region Power System Development Project”, worth 4.173 billion yen, approximately 53 million US dollars, as a first project-type loan in 7 years. This project is of great importance for Lao PDR to connect the area facing a power shortage and the area with surplus power. The project aims to interconnect the two transmission systems in the southern region of Laos (Savannakhet and Saravane) and to improve the reliability of power supply in Savannakhet and its surrounding area, through constructing 200km of 115kv transmission lines and related facilities. The Government of Japan has previously supported the construction of 300km of 115 kv transmission lines connecting the central region (Bolikhamxay) and the southern region (Savannakhet) and related facilities in 2005. The year 2011 was engraved on our memory as the year of natural disaster. On March 11, The Great East Japan Earthquake struck northeastern part of Japan. Since then, the government and the people of Japan were greatly encouraged by the warm support from the government and people of Lao PDR. However, a few months later, Typhoon Haima and Nockten hit Lao PDR, causing heavy flood with torrential rains. To return the friendship demonstrated by the Government and people of the Lao PDR, the Government of Japan decided to extend Non Project Grant Aid, worth 600 million yen, or approximately 7.65 million US dollars, for the purpose of purchasing necessary equipment for restoration of the areas and the people affected by series of flood disaster in 2011 as well as for disaster prevention.

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