A contractor (left) briefs Vientiane authorities on progress in rebuilding the Chinaimo water treatment plant.  --Photo Vientiane Mai newspaper

City officials monitor progress of Chinaimo water treatment plant upgrade

Expansion of the Chinaimo water treatment plant in Vientiane is now 4.19 percent complete, with construction of key components now underway, including the treatment plant itself, administration building, and underground storage facilities.
The upgrade of the treatment plant is part of the Vientiane Water Supply Expansion Project, a large-scale initiative designed to meet the rising demand for clean water.
A progress report on the project was delivered during a recent visit by city authorities to the plant, which is located in Phonsavang village, Sisattanak district.

The visit was led by the Chairman of the Vientiane Administration Committee, Mr Sililatthongsinh Thongpheng, alongside senior officials from the Department of Public Works and Transport, the Investment Promotion and Management Office, district administrations, and the Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise.
Expansion of the plant, which is expected to significantly strengthen water supply capacity in the capital, is slated for completion by July 2028.
During the visit, the delegation was briefed by the project owner and contractor on progress and technical aspects of the project. The upgrade is supervised by the Vientiane Department of Public Works and Transport, with Kubota Construction Co., Ltd. serving as the main contractor.
Once completed, the expanded Chinaimo water treatment plant and pipeline will increase production capacity by 40,000 cubic metres a day, raising total output from 80,000 to 120,000 cubic metres daily. This expansion is expected to enable water access for a significantly larger number of households across Vientiane.
The project is financed by a concessional loan from the government of Japan through the JICA Laos office, valued at 10.27 billion yen (US$68.2 million).
The expansion includes the construction of a new water treatment facility with a capacity of 40,000 cubic metres (40,000 m³) a day, equipped with a SCADA control system.
It also comprises two underground storage tanks of 5,000 cubic metres (5,000 m³) each, pumping stations with multiple high-capacity pumps, and supporting facilities such as administration, maintenance and chemical storage buildings.
Additional components include the development of the Salakham water distribution centre, featuring a 7,100 cubic metre (7,100 m³) underground reservoir and a distribution pumping station, as well as a raw water intake station with a capacity of 160,000 cubic metres (160,000 m³) a day.
The implementation period is set at 30 months, with overall progress reported to be in line with the planned schedule.
During the inspection, Mr Sililatthongsinh instructed the relevant authorities to restructure the project’s steering committee in response to recent personnel changes, while maintaining continuity under his oversight.
He also called on the contractor to submit a detailed revised plan regarding the relocation of an underground storage facility, along with addressing other technical and operational issues.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 5, 2026)