Lao PDR, Thailand celebrate 50 year-energy link

NONG KHAI, THAILAND, December 13 (TNA) - Lao PDR and Thailand are jointly organizing activities in their border areas to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the "energy link" between the two neighboring countries in the ASEAN Community (AC) now. Viboon Rerksirathai, Governor of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), told journalists that the activities, jointly organized by the Thai Ministry of Energy and EGAT, as well as their Lao counterparts, are held in Nong Khai Province in the Thai Northeast and a Lao border area across the Mekong River during December 13-14. Viboon revealed that activities in the Thai side included an alms offering to Buddhist monks at the Tha Sadej Market Community in Nong Khai on Thursday morning to pay tribute to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and a later ceremony to open an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of energy cooperation between the two neighboring countries, also held at the same venue, to commemorate the inauguration of the Lao-Thai cross-border power transmission project, as well as to show Royal activities on energy projects of the late and beloved Thai King and local people's ways of life along the Mekong River from the past until the present. According to the EGAT governor, people from all walks of life are welcome to visit the border exhibition, held from December 13 to 16, during which other local community activities and shows of national Thai artists are also included. Late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and late Lao King Sawang Wattana jointly presided over a ceremony to launch the cross-border high voltage power transmission project at a raft platform in the middle of the Mekong River, the water borderline betwen the two close neighboring countries, on December 16, 1968. Meanwhile, Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammani Inthilath said he expected that Thailand's purchase of hydro-electricity from Lao PDR would reach 9,000 megawatts over the next 4-5 years, from about 7,000 megawatts currently, based on the present Thai-Lao memorandum of understanding (MOU) on hydro-power trade. (TNA)