Vientiane (VNA) – Laos will complete theconstruction of 20 hydropower dams with total installed capacity of 2,707 MW,according to Lao news agency Khaosan Pathet Lao.
The agency cited the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines as saying that the damsare expected to produce 33,874 kWh worth about 16,575 billion kip (about 1.9billion USD).
Electricity generated for export is expected to reach 25,625million kWh, worth about 1.45 billion USD.
Apart from hydroelectricity projects, seven transmission lines areexpected to be completed in the near future, including two that are 230 kV.Another five 115 kV transmission lines are currently under construction.
The Lao ministry is focusing on developing electricity supply sothat the country is less dependent on imports from other countries.
Lao Minister for Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath said the GrossDomestic Product (GDP) in the energy and mining sector was 3.2 billion USD in2018, an increase of 11 percent over 2017.
Laos currently has 63 operational hydropower plants with aninstalled capacity of 7,213 MW. These plants are able to produce 37,035 kWh ofelectricity a year, Khammany added.-VNA
The mining sector's contribution to the Lao economy will continue to drop over the coming years, according to an update on domestic economic prospects in 2018 and beyond of the Lao National Economic Research Institute.
Economic growth in Laos has seen robust expansion compared to regional peers but the country is still at risk due to high public debt, with growth in the share of debt on less concessional terms, according to a report of the World Bank (WB).
The Lao Government and Viet Phuong Group (VPG) of Vietnam on September 11 signed a contract for exploiting and processing bauxite ore and building an alumina factory in Sekong province of Laos.
Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan sent a message of congratulations to Lao leaders on the occasion of Laos’ 43rd National Day (December 2).
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
