Russia will help Laos build three hydropower plants in the south of the country to supply domestic demand and exports, the Vientiane Times reported on Mar. 13.
Currently, the Region Oil Company of Russia is working on documents to sign with the Lao government and developers, Xinhua news agency quoted the Laos’ English-language daily as saying.
The documents include a shareholder agreement, a project financing scheme, power purchase agreements (PPA), an operation and maintenance agreement, and concession agreement for the projects of three hydropower plants, namely Nam Kong 1 in Attapeu province, Xekong 4 and 5 in Xekong province.
The company has carried out all necessary surveys and prepared drawings with approval from the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
The selection of contractors to carry out construction of the projects is also in process, said the Russian company Deputy General Director Vasily Morgun.
The three hydropower plants are estimated to cost more than 17. 1 trillion kip (about two billion USD) and have an installation capacity of 1,200 megawatts. They are expected to start operation in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively.