BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) – Thailand is to buy more
electricity from Laos, expanding to 6,000 megawatt under a new deal signed on
Friday.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and
Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed the ‘Power Purchase Agreement’ (PPA) in a ceremony
witnessed by Thai Minister of Energy Siri Jirapongphan and Lao Minister of
Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath.
The agreement will replace existing ones singed in 2001 and
2006 that expire this month.
Siri said the new deal reflected deepening cooperation on
energy trade between the two countries.
Thailand would purchase a total of 6,000 megawatts of electricity from
Laos, including Nam Ngum 1 Dam, and could be extended to 9,000 megawatts, he
said.
Thailand and Laos have had cooperation on energy for 50
years, said Siri, not only with direct power trade but also power line to
Malaysia and Singapore. (TNA)