Laos and coal
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In March 2012 the government of Laos gave the green light to a Thai company to conduct coal prospecting and exploration on an area of 36.7 square kilometres in Nakheng and Namon villages in Feuang district, Vientiane province. It was reported that the demand for coal is on the rise in Laos, but could stabilize at around 500,000 tonnes per year between now and 2015, before exceeding one million tonnes per year beyond 2015, according to former Secretary General of the Lao Cement Producer Group Mr Inpone Phananoulack.[1]
According to a report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the government approved US$3.1 billion worth of investment in the mining sector from 2000 to 2010.[2]
Contents
Background
As of 2012 the Laos government had plans to build several dams and coal-fired power plants with the intention to sell it to their Asian neighbors. The construction of coal-fired power plants has become a controversial issue in Laos. The government approved plans to construct a coal-fired power plant in the Hongsa District of Sayabouli Province. Laos was not a significant producer of coal until the mid-1990s.[3][4]
Proposed coal-fired power plants in Laos (updated December 2015)
Columns may be sorted by clicking on the headers.
| Unit | Sponsor | Parent | Capacity (MW) | Status | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaleum power station Unit 2 | Xekong Power | Phonesack Group | 300 | Announced | Salavan | |
| Hongsa power station Unit 1 | Hongsa Power Company | Banpu, Ratch, Lao State Holding | 626 | Operating | Ban Han - Hongsa District | Xaignabouri |
| Hongsa power station Unit 2 | Hongsa Power Company | Banpu, Ratch, Lao State Holding | 626 | Construction | Ban Han - Hongsa District | Xaignabouri |
| Hongsa power station Unit 3 | Hongsa Power Company | Banpu, Ratch, Lao State Holding | 626 | Construction | Ban Han - Hongsa District | Xaignabouri |
| Hongsa power station Unit 4 | Hongsa Power Company | Banpu, Ratch, Lao State Holding | 626 | Announced | Ban Han - Hongsa District | Xaignabouri |
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ "Thai company to explore for coal in Laos" Vientiane Times, March 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Thai company to explore for coal in Vientiane province" Lao Voices, March 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Laos: Total Primary Coal Production" The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin, accessed October 15, 2012.
- ↑ "The Potential Impacts of Lignite Mining on the Environment and Local Livelihoods in Hongsa District, Sayabouli Province, Lao PDR."
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