VIENTIANE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The first solar power plant in Laos, with production capacity of 10 MW, has come into operation.
The grand opening of the plant was officially held at the plant location in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday in presence of Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath, reported Lao state-run news agency KPL on Wednesday.
The construction, with total investment of 3.4 million U.S. dollars, started at the end of 2015 by utilizing modern solar panel technology. The project will begin producing at 10 MW before generating 32-50 MW from 2017 to 2018 and up to 100 MW in 2020, project coordinator of EDL-GEN Solar Power Somphet Arounsavath said recently.
By 2025, Lao government will push for the proportion of renewable energy production to be at least 30 percent of total energy consumed.
To date Laos has 42 power plants producing electricity with a total installed capacity of 6,300 MW, which generate 33,000 GWh of electricity a year. Some 20.4 percent of the power generated is consumed in Laos while 79.6 percent is exported.
