Billions of dollars are still needed to develop the energy sector in order to boost exports At present, Laos has 86 sources of energy with a combined installed capacity of more than 10,400MW, of which more than 80 per cent is sourced from hydropower dams.
Category: Laos
Thailand rejects concerns over Lao hydroelectric projects
Despite such warnings, however, Thailand’s government appears to have placed economic considerations ahead of ecological ones in deciding to purchase electricity from the three Chinese-backed dams.
Giant floating solar under development in Laos
EDF is planning to build a 240 MW floating PV project at Laos’ largest hydropower dam. French engineering company Innosea has joined the ambitious project as a provider of support for wave and anchoring studies.
China-based firm’s plans to build Buddha statue in Mahayana tradition in Laos sparks anger among Theravada Buddhists
The Shanghai-based company, Wang Feng Shanghai Real Estate Co. is eying to establish the supposed statute near the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Vientiane, reported The Hong Kong Post. The idea of building a Buddha statute from Mahayana tradition, against the accepted Theravada tradition in Laos has evidently sparked rage among the people.
Laos, UN agree to boost sustainable development cooperation
The government and the United Nations on Tuesday signed the 2022-2026 Lao PDR-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), highlighting the importance of Laos-UN cooperation to achieve Laos’ development priorities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith represented the government to sign the UNSDCF with UN Resident Coordinator to Laos Ms Sara Sekkenes in Vientiane.
Farmers encouraged to replace tobacco crops in Laos
“Tobacco plant cultivation is extremely hazardous to the environment, particularly deforestation to clear land and locate firewood, and it is also a short-term and unsustainable agricultural method that has negative health consequences for farmers, particularly the use of chemical fertilizers,” said Dr. Sanong Thongsana, Deputy Minister of Health.
Japan supports grassroots projects in health, education, agriculture
The government of Japan has provided grant assistance of US$240,000 for four development projects in rural areas of Laos.
Japan will fund two health projects in Xieng Khuang and Xayaboury provinces, an education project in Huaphan province and an agriculture project in Savannakhet province through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.
Laos sets priority list of crops for export to China as agricultural products sale could reach billions
China is a key trade partner of agricultural products from Laos, accounting for more than 80 per cent of total exports, with major crops being cassava, bananas, watermelon, sugarcane, and rubber.
Locked in – Why Thailand buys electricity from Laos
The Thai National Energy Policy Committee recently decided to purchase electricity generated by three planned hydropower projects on the Mekong River in Laos. Not surprisingly it’s the low purchases prices Thailand is able to lock in that makes Laos’ hydropower a major player in Thailand’s energy market, all the while brushing aside the incalculable, and mounting, social and environmental impacts of dams and reservoirs necessary to produce it.