Deputy Director General of National Energy Administration Li Fanrong Visits Laos;Li Praises CSG For Contributions To Lao Power Development

Vientiane, Laos - Li Fanrong, Deputy Director General of the National Energy Administration, and his delegation, visited Laos to promote China-Laos power cooperation.

Mr. Chen Yunpeng, Vice President of China Southern Power Grid accompanied Mr. Li throughout the visit and briefed him on the substantial efforts CSG has made in the Greater Mekong Subregion power cooperation, with emphasis on power investment and construction in Laos.

During his visit to Laos, Mr. Li held substantive talks with Mr. Boun Oum Syvanpheng, Managing Director of Electricite du Laos and Mr. Sinnava Souphanouvong, Deputy Minister of Laos Ministry of Energy and Mines, as well as representatives from other key departments.

During his visit to Luang Prabang, Mr. Li also reviewed the 230 kV Northern Laos power grid project constructed by Yunnan International Co., Ltd.

During his individual meetings with Mr. Souphanouvong and Mr. Syvanpheng, Mr. Li stated that China would strongly support the power development in Laos.

Specifically, China would be ready to “assist the country in formulating its power development plans and building itself into a ‘battery’ in the Greater Mekong Subregion, so that Laos could act as a hub for delivering power to other countries while meeting its power demands in economic and social development”, said Mr. Li.

He further proposed that the two sides should set up a mechanism for high-level mutual visits regarding China-Laos energy cooperation.

Within this mechanism, officials of National Energy Administration and Laos Ministry of Energy and Mines would exchange annual visits to discuss how to advance mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. Mr. Li also proposed that CSG should strengthen its ties with the power grid organizations in Laos and provide firm support for the country in its international power delivery.

  Mr. Sinnava said that he agreed with Mi. Li and that Laos would boost its cooperation with China Southern Power Grid and “fully support China-Laos-Thailand and China-Laos-Vietnam interconnection projects”.

After the meeting, both sides signed minutes of their talks based on mutual consensus.

While investigating the 230 kV Northern Laos power grid project , Mr. Li praised CSG for its contributions to Laos’ power development, stating that the company had made great achievements in its power cooperation with Laos.

According to Mr. Li, through construction of this project, China Southern Power Grid not only “sets the benchmark for operating and maintaining Laos’ power grid projects, but also vigorously performs its social responsibilities as it builds local primary schools, trains overseas students and creates enormous economic and social benefits”.

In lauding CSG, he pledged to continue to enhance the company’s cooperation with Laos, as the National Energy Administration will provide continuous support for CSG in establishing power interconnections with power grids of surrounding countries.

Other participants of this inspection tour included relative representatives from CSG Planning and Development Department, CSG International Cooperation Department and Yunnan International Co., Ltd.

# # #