China and Laos sign hydropower agreement

Deal will develop hydropower projects in Laos.

Laos’ Renewable Energy and New Materials Institute signed an agreement with the International Center on Hydropower in China’s Yunnan province on small-scale hydropower development in Laos.

Small hydropower generators are seen as a way to provide electricity to rural communities, especially in remote areas.

State-owned Electricite du Laos said the government has two major targets: to connect 80% to 90% of Laos’ households to a reliable electricity supply by 2015, and to develop the nation’s huge hydropower potential to boost revenue through the export of electricity.

The deal is part of nine memorandums of understanding signed by officials from China and Laos during a meeting in Vientiane on October 8 and 9.