Deal #6524 Version #87752

Size in operation is the reservoir surface area.

Nam Ngum 3 Hydropower, installed capacity: 460 MW, developed by an independent power producer (IPP)

The Project was identified by the Mekong Secretariat in the 1970s. Developers were selected to develop the site under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with GoL in 1994. The feasibility study, including environmental studies, was finalized by Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Limited and Southeast Asia Technology Company Limited in 1995. Resource Management and Research was engaged in 1998 to carry out an Impact Analysis to provide the Developer with detailed Social Action and Environmental Management Plans. These documents were used as a basis for two rounds of public workshops in 2002 and resulted in environmental approval by STEA allowing the Developer to start construction. However the SE Asia financial crisis interrupted the development until 2006. By that time, the environmental and social baseline situation had changed and required an update of the environmental and social documentation, which was undertaken from 2007 to 2009 by EcoLao and Norplan, and later by NN3PC.

Commercial operation date was planned in January 2020.

Nam Ngum 3 HPP's estimated to cost is around USD1 billion. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved funding of about USD465 million for its construction.