The World’s Patrick Winn reports on Chinese infrastructure development in Laos, which has put the Southeast Asian country’s electric grid under Chinese control.
Category: Laos
The China-Laos railway: a way out of poverty or a white elephant in waiting?
Critics of the Belt and Road Initiative rail link through Laos from China point to its devastating environmental impact and potential economic ruin for an already fragile economy. Others hope it can take Laos from landlocked to ‘land-linked’
#FreeMuay: Groups call for release of Laotian net idol and environment advocate
She was jailed for criticizing the slow arrival of aid for flood victims
Laos credit downgrade signals ‘real’ default risk as China looms
Laos has been seeking to graduate from the so-called “least developed country” list, but has yet to meet the criteria on economic vulnerability.
New Chinese power deal sees Laos risk its future for quick gains
A new deal gives China control of Laos’ power grid as the country faces looming debt from hydropower dams and other development projects.
EDL’s excess hydro\power generation sparks export opportunities
EDL sells 1,000 to 2,000 million kWh to Thailand annually and imports a similar amount, but Laos sells power to Thailand for only 5 cents per kWh but buys power at 11 cents.
Laos’ GDP forecast to contract by 2.5 percent
But the economy will recover in 2021, according to the Asian Development (ADB)’s recent report.
Last Group of Families Displaced by Laos’ Nam Theun 1 Dam Accept Compensation
More than a hundred families have decided to accept compensation, putting an end to a standoff that lasted 17 months.