Trades Union Medal Awarded to THPC
On 6 June 2018 the Lao Federation of Trades Unions (LFTU) presented its highest level of award to THPC in recognition of the company’s donations to the LFTU over the last three years. Each year THPC has made a donation in support of the LTFU's work on the occasion of International Labor Day.
Presenting the Trades Unions medal to THPC General Manager Mr Robert Allen, Mr Phouvong Farkfueangchai, the Director of the LFTU Incentives and Awards Department, thanked THPC for its ongoing support and commended the company for its sustained performance.
Mr Allen said THPC was honored to once more receive the Trades Union Medal and stressed that careful observance of workers' rights is a key foundation of company policy.
Phaxang Villagers Increase Green Area
Ban Phaxang, Khammouane, June 1, 2018
Marking National Tree Planting Day on June 1, Phaxang villagers came together with staff from the Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) to plant trees and increase the amount of green in their community.
THPC provided 2,000 saplings, including fruit, ornamental and plantation species. The saplings were distributed to households for planting in their house areas and in public places such as the village school, temple and health centre. THPC technical staff also gave the villagers instruction on how to plant and take care of the trees.
Each year the company selects one village for tree planning efforts in the area around its power plant, organizing an event with local authorities to mark National Plantation Day and World Environment Day.
Mr Soulideth Baomanikhoth, Deputy General Manager of THPC said that “trees planted today will increase abundance for the community in future, providing shade and fruit for villagers”.
Phaxang groups five small communities that were formerly in Hinboun District, and was built by THPC as compensation for longer annual flood periods.
The Theun-Hinboun hydropower expansion project, inaugurated in 2013, intensifies natural flood cycles on the Hinboun River, so THPC built new houses and public facilities on higher ground for villages along the river.
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Agriculture Centres Offer Chance for Development
Khounkham, May 16, 2018
The Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) has handed over four agricultural development centres to district authorities in Bolikhamxay province to help foster sustainable livelihoods in the area.
The agriculture centres, in the villages of Nongxong, Sopphouan and Phonthong in Khamkeuth District, and in Ban Keosenkham, Xaychamphone District, were run by THPC to demonstrate cropping and livestock rearing techniques during the resettlement phase of the Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project, from 2008 to 2017.
Each centre features around a hectare of agricultural land, with greenhouses, livestock plots, trial fields and gardens. They are also equipped with administrative buildings and accommodation for staff. According to Vongchanh Indavong, a senior manager with THPC's Sustainability Division, the centres were built as demonstration and training centres for livelihood restoration activities during the expansion project’s consultation and planning process. The centres then housed extension teams who worked with villagers and district staff.
With most households in the resettlement villages approaching or surpassing the income targets set out in THPC’s License Agreement with the government, the Theun-Hinboun project has entered its next phase, during which support is given to help communities achieve sustainable development without dependence on the company. District Agriculture and Forestry Offices are therefore assuming control of the centres along with village development committees.
Ms Vongchanh said that THPC would contribute towards operating costs at the centres for the next three years and was also hopeful that new partners would be interested in assisting the district offices with extension work. “The centres have the pote
ntial to help villagers set up supply links to local markets, notably at Lak Xao and Khounkham,” she explained. “THPC has previously invited experts from the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute to work at the centres, and we believe that other organisations or private companies could use the facilities here to implement positive agricultural work in line with their mandates”.
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Hydro companies power up technical student awareness
Vientiane Times April 30, 2018
Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC), Theun Hinboun Power Company (THPC), and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos conducted a seminar for Lao German Technical College (LGTC) students to raise awareness about hydropower and enhance capacity building in the sector.
The Hydropower Day took place at the vocational college and was attended by NTPC representative, Mr Anouphone Bouthavong, College Deputy Director, Mr Koukeo Phommavongsa and around 200 LGTC students.
Deputy Director General of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Somlith Virivong told the seminar that the college needed to collaborate with the private sector including hydropower companies. He said the seminar was part of long-term cooperation in vocational training and economic development between the Lao-German Technical College in Vientiane and NTPC and THPC.
“This includes training courses for electronic technicians and on electrical and procedural components. Both sides value the equality of male and female students and want to integrate both into the courses,” he said.The seminar also sought to strengthen cooperation and the partnership between the hydropower companies and the leading vocational institutions in Laos as well as raising students’ interest in the hydropower sector and the employment opportunities it can offer at the end of their studies, he added.
Students had the opportunity to learn about hydropower and its high potential in Laos; the case study of the Nam Theun 2 and Theun Hinboun projects was also presented by professionals from both leading hydropower companies.
The seminar will be also carried out for students of Khammuan Technical-Vocational College early next month. Since the LGTC is closely connected with Germany and its (unique) dual training system, their objective is to include more and more companies in the training courses on offer, in order to provide a practice-oriented vocational education. Compared to the German system, in which vocational training is split up between vocational schools (theory) and the companies (practice), the LGTC developed a system whereby both parts are (partly) combined in the College.
Companies use the variety of machines and training devices in the College to offer training courses they cannot provide in their own workshop due to the lack of machines or personnel. Whenever possible, companies offer in-company training in their own workshops. The LGTC cooperates with many different local and international companies such as Toyota and RMA Ford in the automotive section, Phu Bia Mining in the metal and electrical sections, Kubota in the agro-machinery section, Endress Hauser and Nam Theun 2 Power Company in the electrics section, and BHS Corrugated in the electric and mechanic section.