Lao PDR to Export 200 MW to Cambodia

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has signed an agreement with Electricité du Cambodge to sell 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Cambodia until 2021, reports said.

Earlier, the Lao PDR announced plans of increasing electricity exports to other countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in the next 6 years: 500MW to Myanmar, 9 gigawatts (GW) to Thailand, and 5GW to Viet Nam.

Called the “battery of Southeast Asia,” the Lao PDR has a large potential for hydropower estimated at more than 25GW. It continues to expand its capacity and modernize its power grid.

Under the GMS Economic Cooperation Program, the proposed Cross-Border Power Trade and Distribution Project will help the Lao PDR develop priority power interconnections with neighboring countries in the subregion and increase cross-border power trade. The project will also expand access to low-cost, reliable power in rural areas.

In the meantime, Electricité du Cambodge said it will also buy 80MW of electricity from Thailand to fill the shortage in supply during the prolonged dry season. Cambodia is currently suffering from daily power disruptions.

Read the related reports at Khmer Times and Asia News Network.