Laos advances 47 power projects totalling 8,260MW for Vietnam exports
Thirteen plants are operating, while the remaining 34 are expected to be completed before 2030, a Lao official said.
Laos is advancing electricity projects totalling 8,260MW to supply Vietnam, while reviewing grid capacity and ways to improve supply reliability throughout the year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Aphisid Sengsourivong, director general of the ministry’s Department of Enterprise Management, said 13 plants accounting for 2,763MW were operating. Another 34 plants, representing 5,497MW, had not started commercial operations but were expected to be completed before 2030. He spoke to journalists during an Asian Development Bank-organised visit to the Monsoon Wind Power Project.
The ministry said all 47 projects had concession agreements with Laos, Vietnamese permission to import their electricity and power purchase agreements. Separately, feasibility studies cover 16 proposed projects with about 10,618MW of capacity. Their development remains dependent on investment, technical assessments and agreements with buyers.
According to Vietnam Electricity, the governments agreed in January 2025 to a minimum target for Vietnamese imports from Laos of 8,000MW by 2030, up from 5,000MW previously. Aphisid said Laos was examining its grid, seeking to accelerate approvals and negotiating prices and cross-border connection points.
The ministry said hydropower had historically supplied 80-90 per cent of Lao electricity exports, making generation vulnerable when water availability falls during the dry season. Wind projects could help diversify those supplies.
The 600MW Monsoon wind farm started commercial operations on August 22, 2025. Located across Xekong and Attapeu provinces, its 133 turbines deliver electricity to Vietnam through a 25-year agreement with Vietnam Electricity. The Asian Development Bank arranged financing of US$692.55 million for the development.
