The government highly values the achievements of the Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) over the past 25 years in operating a hydropower plant in central Laos, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has said.
Speaking at a ceremony held in Vientiane on Friday to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary, the Prime Minister said he appreciated the significant role played by the company in contributing to socio-economic development and the improvement of Lao people’s living standards over the past 25 years.
PM Sonexay said the success of the Theun-Hinboun hydroelectric power plant served to spur the development of hydropower in Laos, in line with the government’s policy to move towards industrialisation and modernisation.
The ceremony to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary was attended by senior government officials, shareholders, partners, and other guests.
During the ceremony, the Managing Director of THPC, Mr Robert Allen Jr., outlined the company’s achievements in operating the power plant, bringing foreign currency into Laos, and improving the standard of living for people in areas surrounding the project.
“With the support of all our partners, we will continue to run Theun-Hinboun hydropower facilities for the socio-economic development of Laos, contributing through income, human resources and technical improvements, environmental protection and community development, and ensuring that a world-class hydropower facility is ready for the government at the end of the licence agreement,” Mr Allen said.
Minister of Energy and Mines Mr Phoxay Sayasone (fourth left) stands with Board of Directors of THPC during an award presentation ceremony. |
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Theun-Hinboun Power Company’s operations is the company’s contribution of more than US$760 million to the state since 1998.
The Theun-Hinboun hydroelectric plant started generating electricity on March 31, 1998, and had generated a total of 46,000 gigawatt hours up to the end of 2022.
The Theun-Hinboun hydroelectric project is one of the most successful projects in Laos’ energy sector and has become a model in the implementation of project obligations according to the concession agreement, as well as actively contributing to the socio-economic development of Laos.
For the past 25 years, the company has enjoyed continuous, strong and sustainable success.
The most significant achievement, and a symbol of the development and growth of the Theun-Hinboun hydroelectric project over the past 25 years, has been the progress made from Phase I with an initial production capacity of only 220MW in 1998, to the Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project, which was completed in 2012.
This expansion of the hydro plant doubled the production capacity to 520MW, and was achieved without any additional investment from the government or the shareholders.
Theun-Hinboun Power Company is the only major independent power producer that is majority Lao-owned, with 99 percent of its staff being Lao nationals.
The company is 60 percent owned by the Lao government, represented by EDL-Generation, with most of the company directors and the Chairman of the Board coming from the Ministry of Energy and Mines and other Lao ministries, EDL-Generation, and EDL.