Vientiane Times report from 11/01/2014: "Major construction works on the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric dam are set to commence in the middle of next month, after the completion of preparatory works at the site, which will straddle the provinces of Champassak and Attapeu. “The mass construction will now begin after all the project preconstruction work that started in 2012 is now complete,” Champassak provincial Energy and Mines Department Director, Mr Khamsy Piengvoravong, announced yesterd ay. Mr Khamsy said the preconstruction work included the construction of access roads to the project site, dormitories and camps for p roject labourers and staff and the construction of a medium voltage transmission line to the site. He said the construction work on the project is slated for completion at the end of 2018 and commercial operations are set to commence in February 2019. The entire project has an investment budget of about 8.13 trillion kip (US$1,017 million), to be carried out by the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company (PNPC). PNPC is a joint venture between SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd (SKEC) and Korea Western Power Co Ltd (KOWEPO), Rachaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL (RATCH) of Thailand, and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). LHSE holds a 24 percent stake in the venture, RATCH has a 25 percent shareholding, SKEC holds 26 percent, and KOWEPO 25 percent. The project spans several catchments in Champassak and Attapeu provinces and will take water from the Xe-Namnoy reservoir. “The project will have a total reservoir area of 5,360 hectares,” he said. The dam will have an installed capacity of 410 megawatt (MW); including 40MW will be for local consumption and 370MW for export. It will require the installation of a 110km double circuit 230kV transmission line from the powerhouse to the Pakxe substation in Champassak, and a 60km 500kV double circuit transmission line from the Pakxe substation to the delivery point in Thailand. Once complete, the project is expected to supply about 1,880GWh of electricity per annum, providing revenue to Laos through taxes, royalties and dividends. The project will generate over 1 trillion kip (US$135 million) in earnings per annum over its 27 years of operation. PNPC signed a concession agreement for the project with the Lao government in October 2012. Since the consortium concluded the project development agreement in November 2008, PNPC shareholders have carried out all of the necessary procedures required for the feasibility studies, including basic design survey and socio-environmental impact assessments. They have also initiated the required provincial and district public hearings for socio-environmental impact assessment."