Laos is eyeing a major expansion of its clean energy exports following a proposed agreement to supply up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity to Singapore.
On 30 October, Électricité du Laos (EDL), the Lao Phongsupthavy Group, and Singapore’s Tuas Power agreed to explore a long-term power supply arrangement lasting between five and 15 years.
The proposed supply profile will rely primarily on Lao hydropower dams, supplemented by solar, wind, and geothermal energy to maintain stable generation during the dry season.
Under the plan, power exports to Singapore will start at 100 megawatts in the first year, grow to 300 megawatts in the second, and eventually reach the full 500-megawatt goal.
Tuas Power Chief Operating Officer Michael Wong said the companies are working to get government approvals, line up buyers, and lock in cross-border transmission deals by 2027. The project aims to sell a mix of hydropower and carbon credits directly to energy-hungry tech firms in Singapore, including data centers and semiconductor plants.
This commercial offering also aligns with the carbon-credit framework between Laos and Singapore signed in September, which allows Laos to generate and transfer certified emissions reductions while securing climate adaptation funding.
The deal builds on an earlier agreement signed on 22 September between EDL and Phongsupthavy Group to create a joint venture to integrate renewable energy to supply local grids and prepare for overseas sales.
Phongsupthavy Group Chairman Phongsavath Senaphuan said power will come from projects across northern and southern Laos. However, the partners still need to secure cross-border transit deals and prove they can maintain a reliable supply year-round.
Regional Power Trade
The 500-megawatt plan expands on an existing cross-border framework that began as a small-scale trial.
Singapore first began importing Lao hydropower in 2022 through a trial agreement allowing the export of 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The initiative laid the groundwork for a second-phase agreement signed in January, which allows Laos to continue exporting between 30 and 100 MW of electricity to Singapore through existing transmission networks in Thailand and Malaysia.
The proposed 500 MW expansion would significantly increase the amount of Lao electricity that could reach Singapore, exceeding the current 200 MW capacity limit under the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project.
If approved, the expansion would represent a major step towards the ASEAN Power Grid, a regional initiative to connect electricity networks across Southeast Asia. It would also strengthen Laos’ role as a regional supplier of clean energy.
