Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng (second from left) visits the proposed site for the Kaleum Coal Fired Power Plant in Sekong Province, southern Laos. — Photo courtesy of the ministry

VIENTIANE – Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng inspected several Vietnamese-invested projects in southern Laos over the weekend and assessed the challenges they face.

He visited the construction site of the Kaleum coal mine and the proposed site for the Kaleum Coal Fired Power Plant in Sekong Province, which are going to be operated by Phonesack company.

The mine's current maximum annual capacity is about 20 million tonnes, of which three million tonnes would be sold to Việt Nam.

The Petrovietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) is seeking lending partners to invest in the project and participate in its management, operation, and maintenance.

Construction on the US$4.06-billion project is expected to begin in April 2025, and its first turbine is hoped to become operational in January 2028.

Minister Dũng also visited a bauxite mining and alumina processing complex of Việt Phương Group in Sekong’s Dakcheung District, one of Việt Nam's largest projects in Laos.

The total projected investment is about $1 billion, and exports are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

He thanked the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committees for their support and proposed that the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment would facilitate the implementation of the Lakmang Thermal Power Plant.

With a capacity of approximately 600 MW, the plant would supply electricity for alumina processing. It is also expected to create a value chain from coal and bauxite ore to alumina and aluminum.

Dũng expressed his hope that the project will become a symbol for the two countries’ relations, and that local Lao authorities will create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese business in all fields. — VNA/VNS