Laos’ Ministry of Energy and Mines released a notice last Friday to halt all feasibility studies on wind power, solar energy, pumped storage hydropower, and hydrogen energy.
The notice released by the ministry stated that the halt was imposed with immediate effect because the Department of Energy Policy and Planning, Ministry of Energy and Mines needs to first release a master plan for energy development in the country.
The abrupt halt on clean energy feasibility studies however does not affect the current development of the Monsoon Wind Power Project, the largest wind power project in Southeast Asia with a capacity of 600 MW.
Located in the hilly areas of Sekong and Attapeu provinces, the wind farm is being constructed at an elevation from 1,000 to 1,600 meters above sea level. The project is expected to be completed by 2025 and is contracted to export electricity to Vietnam for a period of 25 years.
Currently, Laos is home to 81 hydrology power, 8 solar energy, 4 biomass, and 1 geothermal energy power plant with a total installed power of 11,661 megawatts and an annual electricity generation of approximately 58,813 KWs (kilowatt hours).
