Hydroelectric in Laos

Vientiane Times published an article update about Laos PDR's efforts to increase electricity generation. The article doesn't specify where the power sources are generating from - water, lignite, coal...but it is a safe assumption that most of the projects are hydropower on the Mekong or on the tributaries. Over 95% of Laos territory is found in the Mekong River basin. Due to the mountainous terrain, the water has great hydropower potential. Investors in power plants and all the related equipment must be very excited.

*Laos to reach 7,000MW by 2016*

Vientiane Times, 22 April 2014

Laos expects to have a total installed power generation capacity of around 7,000 megawatts (MW) nationwide in the 2015-16 fiscal year, due to the construction of several power plants set to be complete.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines Deputy Minister, Dr Khammany Inthirath said at a press conference two weeks ago, that Laos had 39 power plant development projects which were underway or about to begin construction.

Dr Khammany said the 39 power plants would include almost 20 power plants which were expected to complete in 2015-16 and they would have an installed capacity of almost 4,000 megawatts (MW).

“Currently Laos has had more than 3,000MW and it will be approximately 7,000MW by the time the construction finishes,” Mr Khammany said.

Another Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Viraphonh Viravong said at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue seminar held in Laos earlier this month that there were 33 projects with an installed capacity of 5,570MW under construction.

The Ministry's Planning and Statistics Division reported last month there would be four additional hydropower plants which would begin commercial operation this year after three came online last year.

The four plants which plan to begin energy generation this year are the Xekaman 3, Xenamnoy 1, Nam Sana and Nam Ngiep 3A hydropower plants in the provinces of Xekong, Attapeu, Xieng Khuang and Vientiane.

An additional seven hydropower plants will begin commercial operation next year while another five are scheduled to begin generation in 2016, the ministry said.

The seven plants which will start energy generation next year are Hongsa Mine-Mouth Power Project, Nam Ngiep 2, Nam Beng, Nam Kong 2, Nam Khan 2, Houay Lamphannyai and Nam Hinboun in the provinces of Xayaboury, Xieng Khuang, Oudomxay, Attapeu, Luang Prabang, Xekong and Khammuan.

Five power plants are also scheduled to commence generation in 2016, including Nam Sim, Nam Lik 1, Nam Mang 1, Nam Khan 3 and Xekaman 1 in the provinces of Huaphan, Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Xieng Khaung and Attapeu.

The Ministry reported last month, so far Laos has 24 operational power plants (starting from 1MW) with a total installed capacity of 3,245MW. Combined, these are generating more than 16,100 GWh annually for local and export markets.

“By 2020 Laos will have 12,500MW of capacity with 75 to 85 percent allocated for export,” Mr Viraphonh said.

“Since demand in the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries will be around180,000MW, Laos will be able to meet about 7 to 8 percent of the total demand,” he said.

Mr Viraphonh said the richest water resource is the Mekong River and it gives Laos the potential to develop more than 25,000 (MW) of electricity.

Ethiopia set up an organization and web presence in response to Nile controversy

I totally missed this, but Ethiopia set up an organization and webpages to respond to the recent controversy surrounding development and water rights in the Nile River basin called the Ethiopian International Professional Support for Abay. I was told today that an official statement (9 pages in length) was released in response to the IRN article released a few weeks ago. IRN responded back, asking why the debate of dams on the Nile is out of bounds. I just took a look at that piece and then wanted to know more about the organization and what is going on with accusations flying.

This does not appear to be the Ethiopian government. However, if the Ethiopian government did not like that some people put up a site claiming to be the Ethiopian voice on the Nile River, they would do something about it. Who is behind the site and organization?

In fact, the page does not identify who is behind the organization, but limits membership to Ethiopians only - either in citizenship or birthright. I personally think names should be attached to the claims. Maybe it is the American in me, but I don't like exclusive collectives (membership only things). How can I engage anonymous professionals writing in support of Ethiopia's position on the Nile? I had this frustration when a report was generated  in 2012 about the Renaissance Dam from two anonymous scientists. Much of the data contained was solid - taken from reports and census generated in Ethiopia. This served as a great baseline document. There was also a bunch of erroneous figures and bias statements in the work. Being someone who is researching the dam, I would love to have dialogue with other researchers and "gut-check" my own findings and work.

I would prefer Ethiopia step forward to engage in the global dialogue. Ethiopia should be counted as a country that has a voice. The same with Ethiopian researchers and professionals - step forward and find your public voice! Challenge on your own ground and with confidence. People may rip you to shreds in the media or wherever the conversation erupts, but in the end at least what you have to say is said for all to hear with qualification. 

With my defense looming, I don't have time to go through all of this in depth now, but I am interested to read more in the coming weeks.

ETV video in English about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

The following video was produced for Ethiopian Television - in country - but is in English. The documentary is about 26 minutes long. The documentary provides information on the dam, how Ethiopians understand the project - much of the language in this film echoes language I heard on the streets in Ethiopia - and footage shot at the project site.

* Meheret Debebe is no longer the CEO of EEPCO - he has been replaced by Azeb Asnake, the lead engineer from the Gibe III Project.