Nam Leuk Hydropower Development

Details

Project	TBD
Related Projects	Search
Type	Loan
Sector	Energy
Country	Lao PDR
Start	1996
End	2003
Status	Closed
Last Edited	05 Jul 2021

Funding

US$('000) 112,600

Confinancing Source: Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Project Description

The Nam Leuk Hydropower Project (the Project) was intended to be undertaken as an integral part of the overall development of the National Park (NP) at Phou Khao Khouay (PKK). Unlike traditional hydropower projects, the aim of the Project was not only to provide economic benefits while avoiding or mitigating adverse social and environmental impacts, but also to address the need for long-term environmental enhancement measures. By providing the technical and financial support to the PKK NP, which was lacking, the Project assisted in improving the overall prospects for successful and sustainable protection of the natural resources in the PKK NP. The Project consists of two parts: (i) Part A - Nam Leuk Hydropower Development, and (ii) Part B - Management and Protection of the PKK NP.

Progress (as of March 2021)

Project closed

Contacts

Contact 1
Contact Name
Organization
Email
Contact 2
Contact Name	-
Organization	-
Email	-

News and Multimedia

ADB and Lao PDR officials during the loan signing of the Nam Leuk Hydropower & Financial Sector Program.
Source: ADB Archive

Villagers in three villages in the Nam Xan valley have experienced net positive impacts from the project and its compensation and mitigation works, and a new school has been provided for them.
A new bridge over the Nam Xan has been constructed, which gives access to all the Nam Xan villages providing an alternative route up the Muang Hom escarpment and prevents the villages on the right bank of the river from being cut off from road access to Vientiane in periods of high river flows.
The Project also achieved microeconomic poverty reduction. The most important aspect is the consumer surplus gained by the customers of the electricity produced through the fulfillment of incremental demand as well as through resource savings from replacement of expensive off-grid systems.