Low Carbon News in Laos in September 2014
26 September 14
Lao National Energy Policy
Laos’ national energy policy is based around utilising all available resources and the private sector to interconnect with the region, according to a senior energy official who attended the 32nd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Vientiane this week.
The policy begins with tapping all hydropower potential and other generation sources with the participation of private developers and also seeks full integration with the power sector of the Asean and Greater Mekong Subregion GMS grids to optimize its electricity trade.
On the domestic side, the policy of Laos is “to maintain and expand affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity supply to increase household electrification to 90 percent by 2020; and to promote renewable energy to reach 30 percent by 2025,” said Deputy Director General of Department of Energy Policy and Planning under the Ministry of Energy and Mines
Another part of national policy was to promote energy conservation and efficiency. Laos will use the 32rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) to promote the potential it has for energy development, particularly hydropower plants and hydropower connectivity within the region. AMEM is an Asean mechanism for strengthening energy cooperation to address major energy challenges and ensure a secure and reliable energy supply in the region. Laos is a leader in Asean regarding the export of electricity generated by hydropower plants. The upcoming Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting will also be a platform for Laos to negotiate and sign contracts on energy trade with member states and dialogue partners
Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-26.pdf
25 September 14
AMEM ready to spark energy integration
The 32nd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and its related meetings held on 23 September 2014 in Vientiane resolving to establish stronger links between nations, develop renewable energy while improving efficiency to promote sustainability in the sector.
The two-day gathering has adopted the four joint statements related to the AMEM, International Energy Agency, Asean Plus Three (China, Japan and Korea) and East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting (EAS EMM). The Asean ministers recognised the important role of the energy sector in advancing the regional integration process and agreed that the development of the next Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) for 2016-20 should build on the achievements of the APAEC 2010-15, and contribute to development of the post-2015 vision for Asean Economic Community.
The ministers commended the efforts of the Asean renewable energy sub-sector network in promoting further development of renewable energy including a broader definition of renewable energy to include all capacities of hydro sources but excluding traditional sources of biomass. The ministers tasked the Asean renewable energy support programme to develop concrete recommendations on enhancing the expansion and integration of renewable energy into power systems.
The PM also underscored the need for a concerted effort to reduce the impacts of climate change caused by greenhouse gasses while ensuring sustainability of economic growth in the Asean region.
Source Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-25.pdf
22 September 14
Laos, China cooperate to develop solar power
Laos in cooperation with China will construct and install a 5MW solar pilot project in Vientiane, aiming to develop renewable energy and power supply for the community. The agreement was signed in Vientiane last week by the Electrical Construction and Installation State Enterprise Director General Mr Bountham Saenphansiri, Renewable Energy Promotion Institute Director General Mr Thongkhanh Phimvilay and the Hydrochina Cooperation Representative Dr Yang Jian.
There are rich hydropower resources in Laos. When the Lao government focuses on the development of hydropower, they should also pay more attention to the new clean energy industries, especially solar and wind power said Mr. Yang. Developing the new energy is not only in accordance with demand for the sustainable energy but it is also in keeping with the aspirations of the people of Laos.
The government aims to increase the share of renewable energies to 30 percent of total energy consumption by 2025. The government also outlined a tentative vision to reach a 10 percent share of total transport energy consumption from bio-fuel to reduce the importation of fossil fuels. To fulfill the goals of renewable energy sector development, the government is encouraging domestic and foreign investment from public and private sectors.
Source Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-22.pdf
16 September 14
ADB backs Nam Ngiep 1 power project
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting a 290-megawatt hydropower project in Laos under a public-private partnership arrangement. The bank announced recently that it had signed financing agreements for an assistance package consisting of a US$50 million direct loan, a US$95 million denominated loan and a B loan of US$72 million for the Nam Nghiep 1 Hydropwer Project in the central part of the country. The syndicated B loan is funded by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mizuho Bank Ltd., with ADB acting as lender of record. The project will also be financed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation and four Thai banks.
Laos has a hydropower potential of 20,000 megawatts from its river networks and is strategically located to become the ‘battery’ of the Greater Mekong Subregion. The bulk of the hydropower generated by Nam Ngiep 1 will be delivered to neighbouring Thailand, which relies heavily on its dwindling natural gas reserves.
With the use of hydropower, it is expected that around 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions can be avoided in Thailand every year. The project will be constructed by the Nam Ngiep 1 Power Company (NNP1PC), jointly owned by Kansai Electric Power of Japan, EGAT International of Thailand and the government of Laos. Kansai is the second largest power utility in Japan, while EGAT International is an international arm of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the buyer of the electricity.
Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-16.pdf
13 September 14
Laos to build Natural Disaster Warning Centre next year
Laos has set a plan to build the Natural Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) next year, aiming to help reduce risks and impacts from natural disasters and climate change. The move comes after many major natural disasters occurred in the region and in the world, which have impacted many lives and properties. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Mr Houmphan Inthalath said. currently only Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia do not have a national disaster warning centre. “We will source out the
funding from development partners and the Asean science fund to build the centre,” he said. The natural disasters have become more severe and more frequent in recent years, which brought about the effect of such events on people both in Laos and around the world. The NDWC will be among some of the topics of discussion during the Asean ministerial meeting regarding science and technology to be hosted by Laos in 2015
Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-13.pdf
11 September 14
Solar energy panels reach rural communities in Luang Prabang
Approximately 90 percent of over 20,000 people in 15 targeted villages of Phonxay district in Luang Prabang province now have better access to electricity after solar energy panels were installed in the nearby village of Houaypha in 2011. The installation of solar energy panels was done under the Scaling-Up Electrification and Local Capacity Building for Rural Areas of Luang Prabang province (SELAO project).
The SELAO project received financial support from ‘Fondation Energies pour le Monde’, a France-based nonprofit organisation focused on renewable energy-based rural electrification. The main objective of the project is to contribute to the development of rural electrification based on renewable energy potentials in Laos. The two electrification projects, harnessing solar power and vegetable oil, aim to demonstrate the relevance of renewable energies in meeting the needs of rural communities in Laos. A widely disseminated renewable energy-based electrification programme for at least 30-40 villages in Luang Prabang province is being developed, its implementation is discussed at project meetings and the results presented at the final workshop.
There are still more than 500 villages without any access to electricity. They lie within the perspective of a regional-scale decentralised rural electrification programme using renewable energies that Luang Prabang province and the French foundation are establishing.
The results of the ongoing studies will make it possible to know the needs of local populations and assess their suitability for the installation of solar power
Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-11.pdf
2 September 2014
Bokeo lights up with solar power
An international non-government organization (NGO) and a Lao renewable energy company has provided more than 200 solar home systems to four remote villages in Bokeo province. Plan International, an NGO that focuses on child health and education, along with Sunlabob Renewable Energy recently installed 216 solar home systems in four target villages in the province.
Aligned with Plan International’s objective of improving the lives, health and education of children, the solar home systems will help reduce the usage of kerosene lanterns and provide a cleaner, safer and better source of lighting for the villagers. Decreasing the use of kerosene-based lighting will eliminate the inhalation of harmful fumes and reduce the possibility of accidental household fires. The zero-emissions solar lighting also supports Plan International’s climate change adaption initiatives by reducing the use of carbon-emitting kerosene lanterns and raising awareness of clean, renewable energy.The solar-based lighting will also enable adults to carry out productive, income generating activities later in the day and allow children to study after dark.
This good case study showed that off-grid renewable energy solutions like solar home systems also complement broader development objectives such as education, health and income-generation.
Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-02.pdf
1 September 2014
New cook stoves that help climate change mitigation tested in Vientiane
An improved cook stove programme supported by SNV, the Netherlands development organization, provides consumers with more durable and efficient stoves that are not only better for users’ health and environment but also save households time and money. Through on-going research and development the stoves developed under the programme have been shown to provide households with clean and efficient energy, save households up to US$30 per year and more than 30 minutes cooking time per day.
The programme has been implemented since 2010 by local non-profit association, the Association for Resource Mobilisation and Improvement (ARMI), with technical assistance from SNV and support from the European Commission, Oxfam and the Blue Moon Fund.
The Renewable Energy and New Materials Institute (RENMI) recently conducted the first Controlled Cooking Test (CCT) at its laboratory facilities. The CCT can also be used to measure the amount of air pollution a stove produces in comparison to another. The programme looks at the development of improved stoves to increase efficiency and durability, but also to reduce indoor air pollution and mitigate carbon emission as well as the negative health impacts on women and children from smoke exposure during cooking.
Newspapers/vientianetimes/2014-09-01.pdf