Nam Phoun Dams Hydropower Info by Hobo Maps - Go to Hydropower Projects Page - - Home
There are two different Nam Phoun hydropower projects in Laos as shown on the map below.
Nam Phoun is pronounced like "Nam Poun".
The Nam Phoun hydropower project on the right side of the map is located in the Nam Ngiep area of Xaysomboun Province. It was planned as a 52.8 MW project but has not started or progressed and it seems to be inactive in 2023 so we are ignoring this project for now.
The proposed coordinates for the Nam Phoun Xaysomboun project are 18°47'58.9"N 103°22'33.5"E (18.799688, 103.375969).
The rest of this web page below is about the other Nam Phoun project in Xayabouri (Sayaboury) Province on the left side of the above map.
This 60 MW in-progress Nam Phoun Hydropower project is in Pak Lay District not far west of National Road 4.
The dam site is located on the Nam Phoun (river) near Ban Nam Phoun village about 2.6 km upstream from joining the tributary Nam Gnam (river).
The coordinates of the dam site location are 18°27'48.23" N and 101°28'04.45" E (18.463397 N, 101.467903 E) as shown in satellite image below:
This Xayabouri Nam Phoun project is developed by Nam Phoun Power Company Limited which was created in May 2016. Ownership is (Electricite du Laos) EDL GEN (51%) and SOK Corporation Ltd. (49%).
The project involves the construction of a 60 MW hydroelectric power plant including a head-race tunnel, powerhouse, substation and related facilities plus installation of turbines, generators, transformers and transmission lines.
In June 2015 negotiations began on the Project Development Agreement (PDA) between SOK Corp. Ltd. and Government of Laos and were completed in March 2016.
On November 23, 2016, Power China Chengdu Engineering Corporation Ltd was named as head contractor and awarded the EPC contract for US$ 100 million.
Pre-construction activities were started in 2017.
Nam Phoun is pronounced like "Nam Poun".
Xayabouri Nam Phoun Dam site location shown in satellite image below before start of construction:
A document from EDL GEN estimated the project may be completed in 2021 but the pandemic and border closures may cause delays.
EDL-GEN sold and issued US Dollar Bonds in Thailand in 2016 to help finance this project and others. Further financing was arranged in 2018.
The reservoir area of the lower Nam Phoun dam is partly within the Nam Phouy National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), a protected area in Laos located close to the Thai border and home to many wild elephants. This NBCA is located in the forested mountains of the Luang Prabang Range which is part of the Luang Prabang rain forests ecoregion.
The Nam Phouy NBCA is spread over an area of 1,912 square kilometers and is characterized by mixed deciduous forest with an abundance of bamboo.
The project includes the following:
1. Construction of a head-race tunnel
2. Construction of a powerhouse
3. Construction of a substation
4. Installation of turbines
5. Installation of generators
6. Installation of transformers
7. Installation of transmission lines
8. Construction of related infrastructure facilities