Lao PDR Signs Concession Agreement with Electricity Joint Venture

The Government of Lao PDR and the Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), the joint venture between China Southern Power Grid and Electricite du Laos of the Lao PDR, have signed a Concession Agreement on 11 March. The agreement states that EDL-T will serve as the country's national power grid operator under the supervision of the Government of Lao PDR. It will invest, construct, and operate power grids (230 kilovolts and above), and implement grid interconnection projects between Lao PDR and its neighbors.  

The joint venture aims to increase the country's utilization of hydropower through safe, stable, and sustainable power transmission. Ms. Khamchanh Vongsengboun, Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, underscored that EDL-T will support the systematic management and operation of the Lao national grid, provide more stable power supply, and facilitate large-scale industrial development in the country.  

The Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee manages regional power trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion and provides recommendations on overall policy in this area. The technical assistance ADB Harmonizing the GMS Power Systems to Facilitate Regional Power Trade supports GMS members in in laying the essential building blocks to facilitate regional power trade in the GMS.