Power from Laos may cost more: Egat

Energy permanent secretary Pornchai Rujiprapha, as executive chairman of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), said higher costs should lead to renegotiation of prices from four projects for which Egat has signed preliminary agreements.

Egat has inked deals to purchase power from Nam Ngieb, Nam U, Nam Theun 1 and Nam Ngum 3.

After recent discussions with Laos, in addition to higher prices, the power supply will likely be delayed by a year from the original date of 2023.

Laos has also offered to sell an additional 1,000 megawatts of power from the southern part of the country, Pornchai added.

Meanwhile, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding has entered into a shareholders' agreement with GMS Lao, Marubeni and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE) to form a company to manage Nam Ngum 3.

In a filing with the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the initial share capital of the venture was listed as US$9 million (Bt303 million), which will be divided into 90,000 shares at a par value of $100 apiece. Nam Ngum 3 will have a capacity of 440MW.

Ratchaburi Electricity will own 25 per cent in the venture, GMS Lao 27 per cent, Marubeni 25 per cent and LHSE 23 per cent.