The Nam Mo 2 Hydropower Project in Xieng Khouang Province successfully impounded its reservoir on 10 January, marking a major milestone as the project moves into its final construction phase ahead of planned commercial operation.
The project is located on the Nam Mo River in Mok district, around 70 kilometers upstream from the Laos–Vietnam border. Built in a mountainous area with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,300 meters above sea level, the plant has a total installed capacity of 120 megawatts.
The reservoir operates at a normal water level of 1,305 meters and has a total storage capacity of 80.03 million cubic meters.
According to Service Comprehension International Group, the project’s current Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, all legal approvals were secured before impoundment. Authorities also coordinated with local administrations to carry out information and safety programmed for upstream and downstream communities.
Technical teams completed dry testing of hydromechanical gate systems, confirming that key equipment is ready for operation.
Once fully operational, the hydropower plant, which will operate under a 27-year concession, is expected to generate up to 484 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply power to approximately 160,000 households.
Construction of Nam Mo 2 began in October 2015 following high-level approvals from Lao and Vietnamese leaders.
Initial EPC work carried out by Chinese contractors was completed before 2023, after which SCI Group took over the contract in August 2023.
The project experienced delays due to contractor changes and disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, pushing back its original completion target of January 2019.
The total investment is estimated at between USD 225 million and USD 240 million. Financing includes a USD 152 million loan from the Vietnam Bank for Investment and Development.
With reservoir impoundment complete, construction efforts are now focused on final installation and commissioning works ahead of full-scale operation.


