Bangkok - The multimillion-dollar Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in
Laos carried out a successful test delivery of
electricity to neighbouring Thailand, the
World Bank said Wednesday. "The test delivered a total of 60 megawatts (MW), through the transformer bay and substation, to the 500-kilovolt transmission line that
exports electricity to Thailand," said the Vientiane-based office of the World Bank, which guaranteed loans to the dam project.
The electricity was delivered to the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the main market for the dam's output.
When the project is completed by the end of the year, it will export 995 MW of electricity to Thailand, and provide 75 MW to the Lao grid.
Nam Theun 2 is expected to generate nearly 2 billion dollars in revenue over 25 years, to be split between the Lao government and its partners in the project.
The dam has been one of the world's most closely scrutinized projects for environmental impact and human displacement.