Nam Kong 1 Dam Hydropower Info - by Hobo Maps - Go to Hydropower Projects Page - - - HOME

Nam Kong 1 Dam is on the Nam Kong (river) in Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, southern Lao PDR about 20 km from the border with Cambodia. The Nam Kong is a branch of the Xekong (Sekong) (river) that eventually merges with the Mekong.

There are 3 Nam Kong hydropower projects in the same general area of southern Laos. There have been confusing and changing events in the past but as of year 2026 Lao-based Chaleun Sekong Energy Co. Ltd. (CS Energy) is owner and developer of Nam Kong 2&3 projects while Nam Kong 1 was developed mainly by Chinese companies and EDL.

Nam Kong Dam 1 location map below shows nearness to Cambodia:

Two other nearby hydropower plants are on the Nam Kong river called Nam Kong 2 & 3. All three locations are shown on the satellite image below.

Nam Kong 1 Dam & Reservoir images below:

China Three Gorges Corporation was the developer of the US$ 335.8 million Nam Kong 1 project. Shareholders are China International Water & Electric Corp. with 65 percent, Electricite du Laos (EDL) with 20 percent and Investment and Hydro Power Consultant Sole Co., Ltd. with 15 percent.

Prior to year 2007, Russian Region Oil Co. Ltd. had permission to develop the Nam Kong 1 project but that was cancelled and between 2007 & 2017 there was a period of inactivity before China Three Gorges Corporation started construction as the new developer. Website postings prior to 2007 are not relevant and confusing.

Nam Kong Dams 1, 2 &3 combined layout map below:

Nam Kong 1 Dam hydropower project was completed and went online in late 2021.

The Nam Kong 1 hydropower plant has an unusual underground powerhouse with a tunnel about 3,100 meters long leading to the entrance.

The project has an 80-meter-high dam and a reservoir covering 21.8 sq km of land that extends upriver for 30 km behind the dam.

The project installed capacity is 160 MW from two turbine-generator sets of 80 MW each with 633 GWh annual output capacity.

China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) was a project developer and its subsidiary China International Water & Electric (CWE) was selected to render engineering procurement construction (EPC) services for the project.

Nam Kong 1 Main dam structure location coordinates are - 14°32'47.6"N 106°44'27.7"E (14.546556, 106.741028).

The underground powerhouse is located at 14°34'26.8"N 106°44'10.3"E (14.574111, 106.736194)

The gross head of the project is 190 meters. The penstock is 600 meters long with a diameter of 5.8 meters.

The Tailrace water discharge location is at - 14°34'58.0"N 106°44'02.1"E (14.582778, 106.733917).

Nam Kong 1 secondary dam image below:

Nam Kong 1 controls images below:

Nam Kong 1 generator image below:

Nam Kong 1 tunnel construction image below:

Nam Kong 1 intake structures image below:

The project catchment area is 1,250 square kilometers. The reservoir full supply level surface is 320 meters above sea level with low supply level at 287 meters above sea level. Reservoir capacity is 579 million cubic meters of which 505 million cubic meters is active storage. Normal reservoir operating surface level elevation is estimated at 306 meters above sea level.

Nam Kong 1 statistics below:

Nam Kong 1 Dam is located at lower area of map below:

Nam Kong 1 Reservoir is shown below:

Power Transmission:

Nam Kong 1 hydropower project was finished in June 2021.

In 2026 it seems that Nam Kong 1 sends its power output to Khang Loum 3 substation located between Sanamxay and Attapeau towns but unsure who eventually takes and pays for the output.

Map below shows output transmissions from Nam Kong 1, 2 & 3 hydropower projects. Courtesy of Oliver Royal (University of Texas at Austin).

Prior Developers of Nam Kong 1 - Russian Region Oil Co.

Project History: In 2003, the Lao National Committee for Energy reported that Nam Kong 1 was only marginally viable but that the project was attractive because no resettlement was expected.

In December 2005, Russian Region Oil Co. Ltd. signed an MoU with the Government of Laos (GoL) to conduct an 18-month feasibility study on the Nam Kong 1 and 3 Dams.

In October 2006, Russian Region Oil Co. Ltd. signed an MoU with the GoL to proceed with construction of the 240 MW Nam Kong 1 Dam.

Not sure what happened between 2006 & 2017 with Russian Region Oil Co. out of the project and replaced by China Three Gorges Corporation via its subsidiary China International Water & Electric Corp.

On October 31, 2017 China Three Gorges Corporation as new developer commenced construction.

On June 29, 2021 all of the projects generators were officially put into operation after its second power unit completed a 72-hour trial operation.

The project has been in safe operation since then.