Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Sthabandith Insisiengmay (right) shakes hands with Mr Piang Mounnarath after signing a Memorandum of Understanding on a solar farm last week.

Govt approves feasibility study of proposed solar farm

The government has given approval to Liankham Trading Sole Co., Ltd. to carry out a feasibility study on the construction of a floating solar energy generation plant on a 1,565 hectare site in the Nam Ngum 1 River Basin in Phukhaokham, Khamxang and Samakhyxay villages in Keo Oudom district, Vientiane province.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the feasibility study was signed last Friday between Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Sthabandith Insisiengmay and the Managing Director of Liankham Trading Sole Co., Ltd., Mr Piang Mounnarath.
Mr Piang Mounnarath said the feasibility study will take 18-24 months. If the study yields positive results and is accepted by the government, installation of the panels will go ahead but will take a long time because of the problems posed by the location in the Nam Ngum 1 Basin.
“Investment funding is expected to reach US$1 billion to install 3-4million solar panels, which will generate 1,500-1,600 megawatts of electricity when they are fully operational,” he added.
Each solar  panel is 1.20 metres wide and 2.40 metres long and can generate 600 watts,” he said.
Construction of the proposed solar farm will take place in three stages over 10 years, with the company expected to connect it up to the Nam Ngum 1 Basin in the first phase.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 14, 2024)