Laos Launches 500kV Transmission Line with Plan to Connect with Cambodia

• Sommana Yan
• 7 January 2023
• Local News
• 4355 Views

Yunnan Energy Investment (HK) Co Ltd has launched a 500kV transmission line in the southern Lao province of Champasak and connected to a substation in Khong district on the Laos-Cambodian border, according to Laos’ Vientiane Time on 5 January. 

Mr Chanthaboun Soukaloun, Managing Director of Electricite du Laos (EDL), said the 500-kilovolt transmission line and substation project was the first of its kind in Laos, with a budget of more than US$150 million by Yunnan Energy Investment (HK) Co Ltd. 

The transmission line project is more than 200km long, running through Khong district of Champasak province and Sanam Say district, and Phu Vong district of Attapeu province. 

It should be noted that this project has become an important achievement as part of Laos’ strategy to export electricity to neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia. 

Laos currently has several hydropower projects built as part of the government’s strategy to turn its country into an ASEAN energy bloc. 

As of 2020, Laos has 82 power sources with a combined capacity of about 10,000 megawatts. Of that, 80.4% of the total energy comes from hydropower and 18.6% from coal-fired power plants. 

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