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Nam Theun 2 prepares to resume generation as floodwaters drop
The operators of Nam Theun 2, the largest hydropower plant in Laos, are preparing to resume power generation for export to Thailand after halting operations to prevent further flooding in the downstream Xebangfay River on August 5.
The Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) announced on Wednesday that the level of the Xebangfay River had dropped below the alarm mark, allowing it to resume operation of power generation facilities, but the company has decided to delay power generation for export as it wants to check the technical capacity of the transmission line first.
The transmission system was damaged during the three weeks of flooding, the company told Vientiane Times in an email on Wednesday, adding that technicians are now repairing and testing the system in the hope of completing repair work and resuming power generation in the coming days.
The company also announced that it had resumed generation of electricity for supply to Electricite du Laos for domestic consumption.
Regarding a query about the safety of the Nam Theun 2 dam after the plant stopped power generation while water still flowed into the reservoir, the company said that it had released water from the reservoir into the Theun and Kading rivers, both large tributaries of the Mekong River, and therefore there are no concerns over the safety of the dam.
The level of the Nakai reservoir is close to full, but the company confirmed that the current level is still far from the danger level. The reservoir covers an area of around 450 square kilometres and can accommodate an estimated 3.5 billion cubic metres of water.
NTPC said that the three-week shutdown of the power plant would not lead to a revision of its production guidance as it was able to generate more electricity than anticipated earlier this year.
However, the company admitted that the lengthy shutdown has resulted in a lost opportunity to supply full generation load to Thailand over the past weeks, leading to some loss of potential revenue.
According to a report from the Lao Holding State Enterprise, which holds a 25 percent share in NTPC, the Nam Theun 2 plant generated about 3,433 GWh in the first six months of the year. Of that, about 3,272 GWh was sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
The plant also supplied more than 161 GWh to Electricite du Laos. The Lao Holding State Enterprise expects to receive an initial dividend of US$8.8 million and at least US$16 million for the full year. The Lao government will receive an inaugural royalty payment of US$5.7 million.
vientiane times
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