Lancang-Mekong pilot project provides clean drinking water, improves conditions in Ngoi district

A drinking water demonstration project financially supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund is set to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Ngoi district in Luang Prabang province.
Nam Ou River Basin Hydropower Co., Ltd. (established by POWERCHNIA to develop the Nam Ou River cascade hydropower projects) on February 15 held a commencement ceremony for the demonstration project in the district’s Hatkeep village, downstream of the Nam Ou 2 hydropower station.
The ceremony marked the Chinese New Year. 
Huihong Song, General Manager of Nam Ou River Basin Hydropower Co., Ltd., Mr Boun Mueang, Governor of Ngoi district, representatives of the district and the company as well as residents of Hatkeep village attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Mr Huihong Song expressed his gratitude to district authorities, all sectors of society and the local people for their concern and support for the Nam Ou River Project and the demonstration project.
The drinking water demonstration project was the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund project in the Nam Ou River Basin and had a significant demonstration effect and practical significance, he said.

Representatives of Ngoi district and the company join villagers at the commencement ceremony of the drinking water demonstration project.

Through the construction and transformation of water source points, water supply pipelines and water purification facilities, the project will improve water supply security in Hatkeep village.
It will also effectively solve problems relating to drinking water supply and drinking water safety in Hatkeep and surrounding villages, and improve the condition of public facilities in the district.
Through participation in the demonstration project during the development of the Nam Ou River cascade power stations, POWERCHINA will more effectively fulfill its social responsibilities, contribute to the sustainable development of the local economy and society, and promote and implement Lancang-Mekong cooperation through actual engineering projects.
Mr Boun thanked the China Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Centre for choosing Hatkeep village to launch the pilot project and using the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund to support and solve drinking water problems in the village.
He said district authorities and Hatkeep villagers sincerely appreciated the pragmatic assistance from the Chinese government. Upon completion, the project will improve drinking water supply conditions and solve the drinking water problems faced by Hatkeep villagers, providing a demonstration for similar villages to solve their drinking water problems.
The district governor said he hoped that more Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund projects would be implemented in his district to further improve public facilities and improve people’s living conditions.
In June 2020, the China Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Centre proposed to implement the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund Project called “Lancang-Mekong Gan Quan Action Plan -- Lancang-Mekong Nations Rural Water Supply Security Technology Demonstration Project”.
The project uses “safe water supply in rural areas” as the entry point for Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation, aiming to improve the construction and management capabilities of the local rural water supply, and to provide typical experience and technical support for rural water supply safety in the Lancang-Mekong region through technology demonstration and promotion in typical areas.
After consultation with state departments in Luang Prabang province, Hatkeep village in Ngoi district within the Nam Ou River Basin was selected as the pilot project.
The Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Centre entrusts the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research and Bei Fang Investigation, Design & Research Co., Ltd. to jointly implement the project, which has the following main components:
1.    Build a new water source point and water supply pipeline in Hatkeep village,
2.    Renovate the water intake point and pipeline of the old water source in Hatkeep village,
3.    Install a large-scale centralised water purification plant in Hatkeep village,
4.    Install 10 sets of small water purification equipment in public places such as schools and clinics in Hatkeep village and surrounding villages.
As a pilot project of the China-Laos Lancang-Mekong cooperation, after the project is completed, it can improve the water supply in Hatkeep village, solve problems such as inadequate water supply, unsanitary drinking water, and expensive water charges for the people of Hatkeep village, further improve regional public facilities, and provide direct drinking water to surrounding villages to ensure the safety of drinking water.
Hatkeep village, located downstream of the Nam Ou 2 hydropower station, lies on the Nam Ou river.
The Nam Ou cascade hydropower station project is the first basin-wide development project obtained by Power China in Laos. It replaces the high dam and large reservoir with a scheme of “one reservoir and seven dams” cascade hydropower station, recognised by the Lao government for its green development concepts such as having the smallest ecological and environmental impact, the smallest inundation area, and requiring minimum relocation.
The project consists of seven cascade hydropower stations, with an installed capacity of 1272MW in the whole basin and average annual power generation of about 5 billion kWh.
All the power stations will become operational in 2021 and are the main hydropower energy base in northern Laos.
Construction of the Nam Ou cascade hydropower station has greatly improved local transport and living conditions and has furthered the social and economic development of Laos.
The Hatkeep Village Drinking Water Demonstration Project is the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund project participated in by Power China during the development of the whole basin of the Nam Ou river.
Relying on the fund project and the Nam Ou cascade hydropower station project, Power China will further fulfill its social responsibilities in Laos.
The project is of practical significance in developing the local economy between China and Laos under the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism, enhancing the well-being of local people, facilitating the process of regional integration, and deepening good-neighbourly friendship and cooperation with Laos.
The Lancang-Mekong cooperation is a cooperation mechanism proposed by Premier Li Keqiang at the 17th China-Asean Leaders’ Meeting in November 2014.
Participating members include China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In March 2016, China proposed the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund at the first leaders’ meeting of Lancang-Mekong cooperation, providing US$300 million within five years to support small and medium-sized cooperation projects proposed by the six countries along the Lancang River and the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update February 23, 2021)