EDL-T signs concession agreement with government

Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T) - a joint venture between China Southern Power Grid (CSG) and Electricite du Laos (EDL) – have entered into a concession agreement with the government, marking the next step in a win-win cooperation in electricity transmission between China and Laos.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Sonexay Siphandone; CSG Vice President, Mr Zhang Wenfeng; Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Mr Jiang Zaidong; and officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Ministry of Energy and Mines were the main participants in an agreement signing ceremony.

The agreement authorises  EDL-T, under the supervision of the Lao government, to serve as the national power grid operator; to invest in, construct and operate 230kV-and-above power grids in Laos; and to carry out grid interconnection projects between Laos and neighbouring countries.
EDL-T will contribute to Laos’ economic and social development and improve people’s livelihoods by providing safe, stable and sustainable power transmission.
This will increase the country’s utilisation of hydropower, help transform its water resources into economic benefits, and help build Laos into a powerhouse of Southeast Asia.
Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Ms Khamchan Vongsanaboun, said the scheme was a priority project valued by the government and the signing of the concession agreement was a major victory in project progress.
EDL-T will enable systematic management and operation of the Lao national grid, provide a more stable power supply, and facilitate large-scale industrial development, she said.
It will also ease the export of electricity to neighbouring and other GMS countries, which directly bolsters development of the power sector.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment and other government departments will provide comprehensive assistance to ensure the project fulfills its targets.
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong praised the signing of the agreement, saying that as a fundamental pillar of industry, electricity was a key element in building the China-Laos Community of Shared Future, which serves as a propeller for economic and social development.
The founding of EDL-T leverages the strengths of the two sides, he said, adding that he hoped they could work closely and efficiently to begin operation as soon as possible. “By setting an example of China-Laos friendly cooperation, we pay tribute to the 2021 China-Laos Friendship Year and make a significant contribution to building the China-Laos Community of Shared Future,” he said.
Mr Zhang Wenfeng said that, based on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and win-win cooperation, CSG and EDL have enjoyed long-term, extensive and in depth cooperation, and forged close working relations and deep friendship.
CSG will work with EDL to follow up on work related to EDL-T, optimise the construction of, and enhance safe and stable operation of, the Lao transmission grid.
The two sides will work together to improve power supply in Laos to serve the country’s economic development, improve livelihoods, and build EDL-T into a new paragon of the rollout of the action plan of the China-Laos Community of Shared Future.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 15, 2021)