24 July 2018; (KPL) Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has suspended the planned monthly meeting of the government for August and led his cabinet members and other senior officials to Sanamxay to monitor rescue and relief efforts being made for flood victims.
The collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam on Monday caused flash flooding in six villages of Sanamxay district including Yai Thae, Hinlad, Mai, Thasengchan, Tha Hin, and Samong. Hinlad and Mai villages were hard-hit.
The disaster has claimed several human lives, left hundreds of people missing and more than 1,300 families (6,600 people) homeless.
The Attapeu Provincial Administration Office has announced needed relief aid for flood victims in Sanamxay district following the collapse of the under construction Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam, more specifically its saddle dam.
Authorities of Attapeu Province have urged the Party, government organizations, business community, officials, police and military forces and people of all strata to provide emergency aid for the victims of the disaster namely: clothing, food items, drinking water, medicines, cash and other relief items.
Being constructed by Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC), the 410 MW Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydroelectric power project is located in the southern region of the Lao PDR and is estimated to have an annual energy generation of approximately 1,860 GWh, according to www.power-technology.com.
PNPC is a joint-venture formed in March 2012 by SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH), and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). SK E&C holds 24% stake in PNPC, LHSE 26%, and RATCH and KOWEPO equally own the remaining share in the project.
The project, which is estimated to cost US$1.02bn, is the first build-operate-transfer (BOT) project to be undertaken by South Korean companies in Laos.
The feasibility study for the hydroelectric project was completed in November 2008. Construction of the project began in February 2013 and commercial operations are expected to begin in 2018.
