~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2002]

Vietnam to buy electricity from Laos to meet shortfalls

Vietnam has signed an agreement to buy electricity from its communist neighbour Laos in a bid to meet shortfalls in national power production, state-run media said. Vietnam will import around 1,000 megawatts of electricity each year between 2006 and 2010 and up to 2,000 megawatts in the period after, the Vietnam Economic Times reported Wednesday.

Electricity will be transmitted from power stations still under construction in the Lao provinces of Savannakhet and Hua Phan to central Vietnam's Ha Tinh province and the central highlands city of Pleiku. Currently, Vietnam exports electricity to Laos, but that will be reversed once the two hydro power stations begin operations in 2005, the report said.

Most of Vietnam's electricity is generated by hydro power plants, but limited capacity and resulting shortages in the dry season have prompted the authorities to seek alternative supplies. In May, Vietnam began a 284-million dollar expansion of its largest coal-powered Vong Bi plant in the north east. The plant is expected to be operational in 2005 and will produce around 1.8 billion kilowatt/hour annually. Last year Vietnam launched a major gas project with a consortium led by oil giant British Petroleum that promises to secure 40 percent of the country's current electricity demand by 2006.

Vietnam is also considering building its first nuclear power station. A feasibilty project is due to be submitted to the government by the end of next year. However, authorities have said that any nuclear plant would not be up and running until at least 2017.

Agence France Presse - July 10, 2002.