The state enterprise's deputy governor Apichat Diloksopon yesterday said the board gave the nod to Egat to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Lao government to conduct the joint study of the project.

The Nam Ngieb power plant will be located in Laos and has a capacity of 261 megawatts. It will supply electricity to Thailand in 2014.

Japan's electricity generator Kansai has initiated the project, which is estimated to cost US$400 million (Bt14 billion), and invited Egat to participate. Kansai plans to hold a 40-per-cent stake in the project, while the Lao government will take 20 per cent, Thailand's Rojana Industrial Park 15 per cent and Egat 25 per cent.

Egat will make a decision later if it will invest directly in the project or through its subsidiaries.

The Egat board has also expressed concern whether the construction of power-supply lines along the Na Bon route will be finished within the four-year timeframe.

The power lines are for supplying electricity to Thailand from Nam Ngum 2, Nam Ngum 3, Nam Theun 1 and also Nam Ngieb in Laos.

The board has asked the state enterprise to ask the Lao government if it needs any support for the power-line project.