Projects

Project Description, Objectives and Scope

The Nam Theun is one of the largest tributaries of the Mekong in Lao PDR with a total catchment area of about 14,650 km. The Project is located about 100 km upstream of the confluence with the Mekong on the border between Bolikhamxay and Khammouane Provinces. The intake is located in Bolikhamxay Province and the powerhouse and the tailrace canal are located in Khammouance Province. In this area, a narrow mountain ridge separates the Nam Theun basin from the lower Nam Hinboun basin and the opportunity exists to exploit the difference in elevation of about 240 meters for power generation through a transbasin diversion. The water diverted from the Nam Theun flows through a 6.2 km tunnel and penstock and a 3.4 km tailrace into the Nam Hai, a tributary of the Nam Hinboun, which joins the Mekong about 30 km upstream of Thakhek on the Thai border. The Project consists of the following components:

1. civil works associated with the intake dam, waterways, powerhouse, auxiliary structures, offices and an operators village;
2. supply and installation of 2 x 105 megawatt (MW) vertical shaft Francis turbine generating units;
3. supply and installation of station auxiliaries, switchgear, etc.; supply and installation of structures such as rubber, sand flushing, sluice and radial gates, trash racks and penstocks;
4. an 85.7 km long, 230 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line to the delivery point at the border with Thailand, including metering, and a switching station at the powerhouse and another at Thakhek; and
5. consulting services for project implementation.

The main objective of the Project is to support economic growth through the enhancement of foreign exchange earnings by the export of electric power to Thailand. The Project represented a new policy direction in the power subsector, which has been initiated through discussions with the Bank. It is the first time that the Government of Lao PDR formed a joint venture (JV) with the private sector for financing, construction and operation of a power plant.