Seven wind power projects in Laos with a total capacity of 4,149 MW are looking to sell electricity to Vietnam via transmission lines in the latter's central province of Quang Tri.
State utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) says in a report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade that the Lao side is hoping to sell 682 MW by 2025.
It says the purchase aims to serve and reduce possible power shortage in northern Vietnam amidst the lowering contribution of affordable power (hydropower) and the rising role of expensive power (LNG-fired and offshore wind power), per the national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII).
EVN has said earlier that importing power from Laos is feasible thanks to affordable prices. The price of electricity purchased from Laos’s hydroelectric plants would be about 6.95 U.S cents per kWh, 2-30% lower than domestic sources.
It can facilitate the import of 300 MW at the moment and increase this to 2,500 MW from end-2027, EVN says. It is processing the 500kV Monsoon-Thanh My power line to transmit more electricity from Laos to Vietnam, aiming to begin commercial operation from the second quarter of 2025.
EVN has signed power purchase agreements (PPA) to buy 2,240 MW from Laos. This is lower than the 3,000 MW by 2025 and 5,000 MW by 2030 mentioned in a bilateral agreement signed by the governments of both countries.