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Special economic zones attract US$5.7 b to Lao PDR

Twelve special economic zones (SEZs) established across the country have attracted investment of almost US$5.7 billion and created thousands of jobs for local people, a report this week showed.
The zones’ developers have invested US$4.28 billion, individual companies invested US$1.36 billion, and the Lao government has underwritten the remaining more than US$52 million.   
The number of zones  increased from 10 in the 2013-2014 fiscal year to 12 in 2018, with an estimated total investment of US$43.77 billion and registered capital of US$14.30 billion.
As of 2018, the zones had attracted actual investment capital of almost US$5.7 billion, according to a report presented at the second meeting of the Party Committee of the SEZ Promotion and Management Office on Monday. 
Some 806 companies have invested in the zones comprising 26.34 percent in the industrial sector, 25.26 percent in trade, and 48.4 percent in the services sector, Party Secretary of the SEZ Promotion and Management Office, Mr Champa Khamsouksai told the meeting.
Manufactured goods exported from the zones were worth US$1.75 billion as of 2018. In addition, the zones have contributed more than 349 billion kip in the form of various taxes and fees to the state budget.
The zones have created 55,771 jobs, including 12,596 positions for Lao workers. 
In total, some 29,489 hectares of land have been granted for the development of the 12 SEZs following signed contracts. 
However, just 14,960 hectares have been handed over so far including 11,678 hectares whose owners have been compensated for the loss of their land.
Authorities are currently studying the establishment of another special economic zone called ‘Smart & Eco-City’ straddling Luang Namtha and Oudomxay provinces with site surveys already undertaken. 
Mr Champa pledged the Party Committee of the SEZ Promotion and Management Office would push to improve the administration of the zones including a one-stop service to better facilitate investment and business operations as part of its five-year 2019-2024 work plan. Such efforts would expedite services in a transparent manner, he told the meeting.
He underlined the need to attach greater importance to labour management at the zones and to creating community-based projects to enable nearby residents to participate and benefit from the zones.
The Party Committee will lead efforts to draw up a SEZ strategic development plan for 2021-2030 to replace the 2011-2020 plan.
In addition, the Party Committee will work with relevant sectors to explore untapped potential associated with the Belt and Road Initiative and the under-construction Laos-China railway. New development zones or new special economic zones could be established in this regard.
The committee will continue to assess and follow up the development of the existing SEZs to ensure their effectiveness and maximise revenue collection along with compensating the remaining affected landholders.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update February 6, 2020)

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Sri Lanka Small hydro power developers call on President to protect sector | Sunday Observer

The Small Hydro Power Developers Association (SHPDA), representing the major local power generators of renewable energy in Sri Lanka, recently held a meeting at the Sri Lanka Foundation about the current energy crisis.The renewable energy sector which has seen heavy local investment from 1996 to 2015, resulting in significant foreign currency savings, has been stagnant since
— Read on www.sundayobserver.lk/2020/02/02/business/small-hydro-power-developers-call-president-protect-sector

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Status of power development

As reported at the ECI annual meeting:

There are 75 hydropower plants in operation

The Annual Meeting for Electrician Construction and Installation Service for 2019 on January 28, 2020, as well as pointing out that Lao PDR has a total of 75 hydropower plants nationwide, with a total installed capacity of 9,549,45MW / year.

While there are 21 projects under construction, the total installed capacity is 3,243.5 MW; There are 38 projects (total PDA level) with a total installed capacity of 11,791 MW, combined with GWh / year capacity of 60,9,934 and preparing education (MOU level) 55 projects with a total installed capacity of 10,806 MW, with a combined generating power of 47,625 GWh / year.

Mr. Brabt Malik, Director of the Ministry of Energy and Mines Management, pointed out that for the hydropower plant, which has produced more than 5 MW, there are 54 projects with an installed capacity of 7,576.3 MW and a generating capacity of 37,577.35 GWh / year; One coal-fired power plant with a total installed capacity of 1,878 MW and 12,582 GWh / year; 1 other renewable power plant with 20 MW installed capacity and 105 GWh / year; Two solar power plants, with a capacity of 20.2 MW, generate 40.32 GWh / year.

There are 13 projects under the operation of less than 5 MW with installed capacity of 38.5 MW with capacity of 102.12 GWh / year; There are one project for renewable energy with 5 MW with installed capacity of 57.59 GWh / year; There are three solar power plants with an installed capacity of 11.8 MW and a power generation capacity of 18.88 GWh / year. On the occasion, Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Indirath said that the strategy will be completed by 2025 and target 98% of households nationwide to access electricity; Export more than 9,000MW to Thailand; Vietnam 5,000mW; Myanmar 500MW; Malaysia 100MW; Cambodia 200MW. In September 2019, another 500MW contract was signed and by 2030 is 3,500MW; Strive to provide sufficient domestic electricity supply and generate additional 3,500 MW; As a regional transmission hub.

Source: Laos News.