Lao PDR

The World Bank, working together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), actively supports the development of a regional power market in the GMS: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar,... Show More + Thailand, Vietnam and the Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China. This report is part of a dynamic process aimed at developing power trade in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the objective of which will be to provide reliable and economic electric service to consumers, consistent with sustainable use of natural resources. The report includes the following headings: introduction; issues related to the current situation; possible options and requirements for the intermediate term; recommendations for intermediate-term decisions; options for long-term trading in the GMS region; next steps; and conclusion. Show Less -

This report presents the findings of the first study in the Lao PDR to assess the residential demand for electricity in Vientiane, the capital. Electricity exports are... Show More + critical to the country's foreign exchange earnings and play a dominant role in the government's sector investment strategy. Expansion of the domestic grid is also a fundamental development goal. However, recent economic reforms have seen an unprecedented rise in the domestic demand for electricity in Vientiane and the widespread use of appliances for cooking, refrigeration, lighting and entertainment. These trends, and their corresponding downward pressure on export revenues, were key determinants in the design of the study and in the recommendations of this report. Show Less -