Vietnam Signs Agreement to Purchase Electricity From Laos

Nov 02, 2010- BBC Monitor - Energy Central

Vietnam and Lao have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the Sekaman Hydro-electric Power Plant 1, one of major energy cooperation projects between the two countries.

Present at the signing ceremony in Vientiane on Oct. 28 were Laos ' Deputy Minister of Energy and Mining Somboun Ratsasombath and Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmi Phomvisay, and Vietnam's Ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau.

The Sekaman Hydro-electric Power Plant 1 includes the Sekaman 1 project and the Sekaman Sansay project in Attapeu province of Laos which have a combined capacity of 322 MW to produce 1.2 million kWh per year.

The construction of the 441.6 million USD project is scheduled to begin later this year and it is expected to be put into operation in 2015.