China-Laos Railway Power Supply Project Completed on Schedule: To Light up Every Household along Laos-China Railway

The Laos - China Railway is a major project for implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and a key solution for Laos to transform itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked nation.

On Aug 31, 2021, the External Power Supply Project for the China-Laos Railway Project was completed on schedule, ready to power up the railway. The project involves building 2,220 towers and 936 km of transmission lines, and connecting 24 traction substations.

The project consists of two sections, one in Laos, which was invested, constructed, operated and maintained by Laos-China Power Investment Company (LCPC), a joint venture between China Southern Power Grid Yunnan International (CSG-YNIC) and Electricite Du Laos (EDL); another in China, which was invested, constructed, operated and maintained by CSG.

The constructors applied various mature technologies to preserve local environment as more than half of the transmission lines go through mountains.

To erect a tower usually meant removing a hill slope in the past. But in this project, to minimize devastation to the vegetation, the constructors adopted unequal heights of tower foundations based on mountain features. After construction, they planted suitable grass species to restore the Eco-environment.

Meanwhile, by elevating the heights of towers from 30-40m to 60-80m, the constructors have reduced vegetation deterioration and preserved animal migration passages.

“Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets not only in China, but also in Laos,” said Huang Wengang, LCPC President and Head of the Project. 

The China-Laos Railway will be a green and low carbon electrified railway. And also a centennial road leading to more value-added development. As its power provider, the project also brings prosperity to communities along the railway. Zhong Xiaotao, Senior Manager of CSG’s International Cooperation Department said “the added values lie in ecological and environmental protection by applying the same construction standards and latest technologies as in China to reduce environmental hazards. The added values lie in sharing since we have been training grid operation and management professionals for Laos, which will stimulate local employment and ensure power supply reliability”.

Pheng Bounleu is a Lao employee working at the Lao section of the project. He was head of the second transmission line engineering tender. He explained: “The incomes of skilled workers can double average workers’ since better skills mean higher pay. Through the project, I became a master of tower construction, acceptance and line erection. This gives me an edge when applying for other projects in the future.”   

The railway, set to spur economic and trade growth along the way, will also increase the power load, making it important to guarantee power supply. Apart from robust grid structure, local professionals also matter.

Huang Wengang said: “We hope the project would not be a one-time offer or bonus but a pool that turns up skilled professionals to support Lao grid construction.”

Another change brought by the project is the new roads built inlocal villages. During construction, LCPC extended roads to the villages, enabling villagers to transport agricultural and animal husbandry products out by farm machinery vehicles instead of by man-power or horses.

Bounxay Nuohuexong’s hometown is located in Huang Phae village, Xay district, Oudomxay Province. He said: “There used to be a narrow path in and out of the village which became muddy whenever it was rainy. Now, with the new gravel road, we can drive tractors to bring rice to Xay district easily.” As for Vanhkham Nakavong from Huang Lieng village, Nga district, Oudomxay Province, he couldn’t wait to ride the train at the Nga District Station of the railway and sell beef cattle to China. 

Electricity escorts the China-Laos Railway towards a better life. As Yang Ronghui,    LCPC Board Chairwoman stated: “We will work closely with EDL to ensure power supply and improve reliability for the railway, and to build this railway into a road of prosperity together.”

The operations of the railway at the end of 2021 will present numerous opportunities to spur up local economic and social development: “The railway will make it easier for us to travel and sell to other places with better prices. I'd like to take my family to visit China one day.” Like Bounxay Nuohuexong and Vanhkham Nakavong, other local residents are all expecting a brighter future delivered by the railway.