CK Power promoted the 1285 MW Xayaburi Hydropower Station planned in Laos. CK Power Plc (CKP), the power generation arm of CH Karnchang Plc, is advancing a feasibility study to build a hydroelectric power plant near Luang Prabang on the Mekong River in northern Laos, which was delayed due to the effects of the pandemic last year.

Muntana Auekitkarjorn, deputy managing director of CKP in charge of corporate planning, said that the development cost of the Luang Prabang project of its third hydroelectric power plant in Laos is estimated at 15-160 billion baht. She said that this study will negotiate electricity prices with Thailand’s State-owned Power Generation Authority, and Thailand will become a buyer of electricity.

According to the Mekong River Commission website, the Luang Prabang project is planned to be built on the mainstream of the Mekong River in the village of Houygno, about 25 kilometers away from Luang Prabang. This is a run-off dam, which is estimated to generate 1,460 megawatts of electricity. The developer plans to sell electricity to Thailand or Vietnam. The construction of the new hydroelectric power plant will begin in 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

CKP developed the Nam Ngum2 hydroelectric power plant earlier, with an installed capacity of 615MW. It began commercial operations in January 2013. The company also built a 1,285 MW Xayaburi Hydropower Station, which was put into use in October 2019. CKP recently announced the allocation of capital expenditure worth 2-4 billion baht for the next few years.

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Part of the budget will support ongoing feasibility studies and projects for the company to expand its power generation business. Mrs. Montana said that the expansion will include new development projects and asset acquisitions. Thitipat Nananukool, assistant managing director of finance and accounting, said that CKP hopes to increase its power generation capacity from the current 2.16GW to 5GW by 2025. Electricity is produced by its 16 power plants, including 12 solar power plants and two gas-fired combined heat and power plants in Thailand, and two hydroelectric power plants in Laos.Editor/Baohongying