Cooperation vital to energy development
CURRENTLY, hydropower provides almost 100 per cent of the domestic electricity supply and the country’s export of electricity to the neighbouring countries.
Laos is seeking the advancement of cooperation in energy development, especially in promoting investments in the renewable energy sector, officials say.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith relayed the country’s intentions at the 73rd Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unscap ) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The session, held last week, took place under the theme, “Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Energy”. During the session, Saleumxay spoke about both the countries in the region and around the world having committed themselves to moving towards a more diverse and low carbon energy strategy through principles found in the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that fossil fuels, which he said still remain a major part of the regional energy mix, accounted for three-quarters of electricity generation.
He revealed that the government had adopted a long-term strategy to promote more energy saving through the development of clean, environmental friendly and renewable energy resources such as hydropower, solar, wind biomass, and bio-fuel, and as such, spoke to the proneness of the country to face high fuel prices and supply shortage crisis.
“This has become an integral part of our national development policy in order to ensure energy security and sustainable socio-economic development,” Saleumxay said. The government has focused on developing and tapping into its vast hydropower potential as well as promoting the expansion of renewable energy to achieve the target of reaching 30 percent of renewable energy by 2025.
Currently, hydropower provides almost 100 per cent of the domestic electricity supply and the country’s export of electricity to the neighbouring countries.
The minister also spoke about the development of large, medium and small scale hydropower projects, which he said aimed to expand electricity access to rural and remote areas, with 90 percent of the country’s population on the grid by 2020.
