Laos Inks Deal for 100 MW Laos solar project in Oudomxay
Laos is continuing its ambitious push to become a major clean energy hub in Southeast Asia. In a significant move, the nation’s state electricity enterprise has signed an agreement with a South Korean private company to develop a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power project in the northern province of Oudomxay.
This new partnership underscores Laos’s commitment to diversifying its energy mix and leveraging its renewable resources for both domestic stability and regional export.
Project Scope and Timeline for the Laos solar project
The agreement paves the way for a feasibility study and subsequent development of a solar plant set to cover approximately 150 hectares near the Namhin Reservoir in Xay district. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.
Once fully operational, the 100 MW facility is projected to generate an impressive 160 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year. This output is substantial enough to power an estimated 100,000 households, marking a considerable addition to the country’s generation capacity.
A Strategic Move for Energy Export and Domestic Security: The Laos solar project
While the project will bolster Laos’s overall energy production, a majority of the electricity generated is earmarked for export to neighboring Vietnam. This aligns with Laos’s long-term strategy to become the “Battery of Southeast Asia,” capitalizing on its renewable energy potential to supply power to the wider ASEAN region.
Beyond its role in power export, the project is poised to deliver critical benefits at home. For Electricité du Laos, the state-run utility, this development is expected to help reduce the reliance on and costs of electricity imports, particularly during the dry season when hydropower output can be limited. By bridging these seasonal supply gaps with solar power, the project will contribute to stabilizing domestic electricity prices and enhancing national energy security.
Building on a Foundation of Renewable Growth with the Laos solar project
This 100 MW project is the latest in a series of major energy developments in the region. It follows the commencement of operations in December 2025 of a much larger 1,000 MW solar plant in the same area—the largest of its kind in Laos. That facility now generates approximately 1.7 billion kWh annually, with its electricity being exported to China’s Yunnan Province.
The infrastructure to support these large-scale exports is already in place. The Laos-China 500 kV transmission line, which became fully connected in early February, is a critical artery for this cross-border energy trade. The new project with the South Korean firm signals a continued expansion of this export-oriented energy model, opening a new corridor to Vietnam and further cementing Laos’s pivotal role in the regional energy landscape.
