A new 330-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant planned for Xiengkhouang Province is expected to significantly improve domestic electricity reliability for northern Laos, especially during the dry season (March to August) when river levels plummet.
On 26 August, private developer B Rich Namphan Power Sole Co., Ltd. signed a contract for the construction of the USD 202.95 million facility, which is scheduled for completion by 2029.
China Western Power Industrial Co., Ltd. will supply the equipment and supervise installation, while Dongdok Construction and Installation Engineering Sole Co., Ltd. will serve as the primary contractor.
First conceptualized during a feasibility study in 2015, the project has secured a suitable site and a local coal supply expected to last at least 25 years. The plant will operate as a domestic Independent Power Producer (IPP-D), selling its output to the state utility, Électricité du Laos (EDL), to supply small and medium-sized industries in the northern region.
The developer confirmed that the plant will be the first coal-fired project in Laos to utilize supercritical technology, providing a cleaner, highly efficient thermal baseline.
Also, because the plant’s USD 202.95 million cost is below the USD 300 million threshold set by the Lao Law, it bypasses the need for National Assembly approval.
Laos Looks Beyond Hydropower
Laos is expanding renewable energy beyond its hydropower, which currently accounts for around 70 percent of the country’s electricity generation capacity.
In recent months, authorities have advanced solar projects, including a 1,000-megawatt solar project in Oudomxay and a new 5-megawatt project in Champasak. The projects are expected to diversify electricity supplies, improve grid stability, and strengthen Laos’ role in regional energy markets.
Laos is also promoting household rooftop solar, with Electricité du Laos purchasing surplus electricity under 10-year contracts to increase domestic generation and reduce electricity imports during periods of high demand.
Meanwhile, Laos and Russia agreed in June to begin preliminary studies for a potential nuclear power plant. The initial studies will examine possible locations and how a future plant could be integrated into Laos’ energy system.
