Houay Ho
Location: Attapeu
Operator: Houay Ho Power Co Ltd
Configuration: 2 X 75-MW Pelton
Operation: 1999
T/G supplier: Sulzer, ABB
EPC: Electrowatt, Daewoo
Quick facts: This is the second Laotian hydro IPP and was originally developed by Daewoo (60%) with Loxely plc and EDL, (20% each). Construction on a 26km access road started in 1993, followed by civil works on an 80m dam and related facilities. Houay Ho was designed for power export and about 95% of the plant’s electricity is sold to EGAT for peaking requirements. Houay Ho came in over budge at about $243mn. In Sep 2001, Tractebel and a Thai partner MCL entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Houay Ho from Daewoo and Loxley. The total acquisition price amounted to approximately $140mn.

Nam Dong
Location: Luangprabang
Operator: Electricite du Laos
Configuration: 3 X 340 kW Pelton
Operation: 1970
T/G supplier: Bouvier
EPC: Sogreah, Vianini Lavori

Nam Leuk
Location: Vientiane
Operator: Electricite du Laos
Configuration: 2 X 30-MW Francis
Operation: 2000
T/G supplier: MHI, Melco
EPC: Sogreah, China International Water & Electric Corp
Quick facts: This plant was built using a $52mn loan from the ADB and OECF's first loan to Laos in 20 years. Construction started in Nov 1996 and commercial operation was in the first quarter of 2000. The plant has a 50m earthfill embankment dam and is connected to the grid by two 115kV lines. Electricity is used in Bolikhamxay and Xiang Khoung Provinces and is also exported. Total project cost was $112.6mn. An unusual feature of the project is an annual set-aside of 1% of the revenue from electricity sales for use in managing and protecting the Khau Khouay National Biodiversity Conservation Area.

Nam Lik-2
Location: Vientiane
Operator: Nam Lik 1-2 Power Co Ltd
Configuration: 2 X 50-MW Francis
Operation: 2010
T/G supplier: Hangzhou Resource Power Equipment Co Ltd
EPC: China International Water & Electric Corp
Quick facts: In 2004, CWE signed an MOU with the Lao government for a project feasibility study and a 25yr, BOOT concession was granted in 2006. Construction started in 2007, reservoir filling was completed on 14 Aug 2009 and first power was generated on 31 May 2010 after about 39mos of construction. The $150mn plant was officially opened on 31 Aug 2010. The site is near Naxeng village, Feuang district,150km from the capital.

Nam Ngum-2
Location: Vientiane
Operator: Nam Ngum 2 Power Co Ltd
Configuration: 3 X 205-MW Francis
Operation: 2010
T/G supplier: Toshiba
EPC: Mitsui, Alstom Projects India, Ch Karnchang, Pöyry, Colenco
Quick facts: This is a Laotian project for energy export to Thailand. The scheme is 90km north of Vientian and 35km upstream of the Nam Ngum-1 plant. It  has a 181m, concrete-faced rockfill dam, an open chute spillway on the right abutment, and a dam-toe powerhouse with the three turbines under a design head of 154.5m. Estimated annual output is 2,218 GWh/yr. Nam Ngum-2 connects to Thailand via a 95km, 230/500kV double circuit line.

Nam Theun-2
Location: Bolikhamxai
Operator: Nam Theun 2 Power Co
Configuration: 4 X 230 kW Francis, 2 X 37.5 MW Pelton
Operation: 2009
T/G supplier: Andritz
EPC: MWH, EDF, Nishimatsu Construction, Ital-Thai Development
Quick facts: The site is near Thakhek, Khammouance province, in the narrow waist of Laos some 240km due east of Vientiane. Project headwaters are in the Annamite Mountains along the border with Vietnam and the 450km² reservoir is on the Nakai Plateau behind a 48m gravity dam with a crest length of 320m. The surface powerhouse is at the base of the plateau escarpment about 40km from the dam. The four large sets are for power export via a 130km,double-circuit 230kV transmission line to Thailand and the two small sets serve domestic needs. From the power station, water flows to the Xe Bang Fai River and then to the Mekong. The developer is a consortium of EDF (35%), the Lao government (25%), EGCO, (25%), and Ital-Thai Development (15%). After 25yrs of operation, the plant will revert to the Lao state. Nam Theun-2 commissioned on 15 Mar 2010.

Theun-Hinboun
Location: Bolikhamxay
Operator: Theun-Hinboun Power Co Ltd
Configuration: 2 X 105-MW Francis
Operation: 1998
T/G supplier: ABB, Kvaerner, Recchi-CMC
Quick facts: This $240mn, run-of-river project was built by a consortium consisting of EDL (60%) with Nordic Hydropower AB, jointly owned by Norway’s Statkraft and Sweden’s Vattenfall (20%), and MDX-Lao Co Ltd (20%). Seed money was a $60mn soft loan from the ADB and a Thai banking syndicate provided additional funding along with the Nordic Investment Bank and other export finance institutions in Norway and Sweden. A PPA was signed with EGAT in Jul 1994, construction began in mid-1995, and Theun-Hinboun was commissioned on schedule in Mar 1998. An 85km, double-circuit 230kV line runs to Thakhek on the Lao-Thai border and a further 110km of transmission line connects to the EGAT grid at Sakhon Nakhon. The dam is 25m high.