Laos affirms to sell 9,000 megawatts of electricity to Thailand

BANGKOK, Nov 3 (TNA) -- Laos has affirmed on materializing a bilateral agreement to sell 9,000 megawatts of electricity to Thailand while new technologies of electricity generation are reducing Thailand’s need to import power. Khammany Inthirath, Lao Minister of Energy and Mines, said Laos affirmed on the power supply as earlier settled under a bilateral memorandum of understanding signed in September. The stance happens as the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is reviewing its electricity sourcing plan because new technologies of electricity generation including solar farms are decreasing its need to import power. Forty-six power plants of Laos are generating altogether 6,400MW. Laos is building 50 more power plants that should raise the capacity to 10,000MW within 2020. Thai and Lao electricity authorities have not concluded when the 9,000MW power purchase will be realised. According to Mr Khammany, Lao electricity demand is rising by 15% yearly. About 70% of electricity generation in Laos depends on hydropower plants. Laos plans to sell 100MW of electricity through Thailand to Malaysia early next year. (TNA)