Nam Neun Dams 1 & 3 Hydropower Info - by Hobo Maps - Go to Hydropower Projects Page - - - HOME
Nam Neun 1 & 3 hydropower projects have been called Nam Nern 1 & 2 in the past. There was also a Nam Neun 2 project planned but cancelled due to a negative impact study.
Nam Neun dams 1 & 3 were scheduled to begin construction in 2016 but it seems there has been a change in developer and contractors. Originally, Vangsub Development and Investment Co Ltd and THB Group Sole Co Ltd made a joint venture to develop both the Nam Neun 1 and 3 hydropower plants in Xieng Khuang and Huaphan Provinces with a completion date projected for 2022.
Not sure what happened but in 2024 Phongsubthavy Group is in charge of completing the Nam Neun 1 project and has awarded construction contracts to a joint venture of Vietnamese contractors who in March 2024 are working at full speed on the project which is still in early stage of construction.
In 2024 it seems that Nam Neun 3 project is not progressing and may be inactive. There is nothing recent on the web.
The two plants 1 & 3 would have a total installed capacity of 184 MW together and estimated generation capacity of 825 GWh per year. The output was originally planned for purchase by EDL for domestic consumption but it now seems both plants will export most output to Vietnam.
The original estimated cost of the two projects was US $400 million and the Lao govt. would hold a 10% ownership share.
Nam Neun 1 & 3 hydropower project locations shown on map below:
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Nam Neun 1 project is located at coordinates 19°42'29.6"N 104°01'25.7"E (19.708227, 104.023802) as shown in old satellite image below with no visible activity:
In Vientiane Capital on Nov. 29, 2023, Phongsubthavy Group Sole Co., Ltd (of Laos), signed and awarded an EPC contract to a consortium of Vietnam-based contractors, headed by Construction Joint Stock Company 47 and Power Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company 3 for the design, supply, installation of hydraulic mechanical equipment and construction of Nam Neun 1 Hydropower project. The total contract value is 185 million USD.
The construction contract includes main items such as the rolling weirs, spillways, diversion tunnels, water intakes, tunnels, plant and distribution stations. The power plant contract implementation period is 48 months. According to the plan, the project is expected to complete the grid connection in the fourth quarter of 2027 and export electricity to Vietnam.
The Nam Neun 1 plant is being built in Xieng Khouang province with an installed capacity of 124 MW with a production capacity of 575 GWh per year. This output will be exported to Vietnam as there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) purchase agreement signed with the government of Vietnam in December 2020.
The electricity generated will be carried 51 km via a 115 kV transmission line from a substation in Kham district.
The Project is at Phianghong Mountain Village, Muang Nonghet District, Xiengkhuang Province, Lao PDR.
The plant's concrete dam will be 520 meters long and 133 meters high. The water catchment area is 3,764 square kilometers and the reservoir is 17 square kilometers.
Concept image below shows what Nam Neun 1 project may look like.
Nam Neun 1 site image below of where the project will be built.
Nam Neun 1 hydropower project is located in Ban Phianghong, Muang Nonghet, Xiengkhuang province, Lao PDR.
The project includes two turbine-generator units, with a total capacity of 124MW.
The main items of the project include: Main dam, open spillway, diversion tunnel, water intake, tunnel, factory and distribution station.
The planned construction period is a very optimistic 48 months.
EPC Contractor - Construction Joint Stock Company 47 (HOSE: C47) staff review core samples below in the planning phase:
Satellite image below shows Nam Neun 1 planned impact areas near the border with Vietnam in the upper right corner of the image.
In February 2024 Vietnam-based "Construction Joint Stock Company 47 (HOSE: C47)" was selected as the leading EPC contractor for the Nam Neun 1 Hydropower project. The project has an estimated cost of 185 million USD.
Immediately after signing the contract, C47 carried out survey work, test drilling, topographic measurements, project drawings, geological maps, etc. In February 2024 construction of roads to the dam site were underway as well as completion of camp and auxiliary areas. Design surveys were conducted to prepare and upgrade the total site plan.
In 2024, there are three important project items that C47 needs to complete:
- First is the construction of a diversion tunnel starting in April and hopefully completed in November 2024 to build cofferdams and divert water.
- Second item is to complete the excavation of the main dam foundation and diversion channeling the stream through the tunnel so that the cofferdam can be built and serve the dam construction in 2025.
- The third item is the excavation of the surface discharge spillway.
An image of what the Nam Neun 1 reservoir may look like is shown below:
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The Nam Neun 3 hydropower plant would be built in Houaphan Province and would have an installed capacity of 60 MW withannual production capacityof 250 GWh. The water catchment area is 1,400 square kilometers while the reservoir surface area would be 12 square kilometers.The dam would be 340 meters long and 110 meters high. The transmission grid is to carry 115 kV over 5 km from the Khokhin substation.
Nam Neun 3 project is located at coordinates 20°01'05.8"N 103°48'59.8"E (20.018273, 103.816601) as shown in old satellite image below with no visible activity:
The US $140 million project includes the following: 1. Construction of 340 meter long and 110 meter high dam 2. Construction of a power house 3. Construction of substations 4. Construction of access roads 5. Installation of transformers 6. Installation of turbines 7. Installation of generators.
Laos Ministry of Energy and Mines (MoE) and Indochina Consulting Co Ltd (ICC) are jointly undertaking the construction of Nam Neun 3 hydroelectric power plant in Nam Et, Houaphanh Province, Lao PDR.
On October 8, 2009, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Minister of Planning and Investment and ICC.
On August 26, 2014, a power development agreement (PDA) was signed between the government of Laos and Indochina Consulting Company.
In May 2016, THB Group Sole Co. Ltd. and Vangsup Development and Investment Co. Ltd. were appointed as general contractors. Construction was originally expected to be completed in 2022.
Not sure what has happened after 2016. In 2024 it seems the Nam Neun 3 project is not progressing and may be inactive.
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Nam Neun / Nam Ca watershed map below:
The Nam Neun/Sông Ca watershed basin is adjacent to the Ma River Basin. The Nam Neun river begins on Mount Muong in the Northern Annamite Range of Lao PDR and then flows into Viet Nam, where it is known as the Sông Ca. Its mainstream flows about 531 km to its mouth in Viet Nam’s Nghệ An Province where it flows into the South China Sea.
The Nam Neun/Sông Ca basin covers 27,200 square km, 65% of which lies in Viet Nam and 35% in Laos where it is distributed between the provinces of Huaphanh and Xieng Khouang, while in Viet Nam its territory is distributed across Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, and Ha Tinh provinces.
A Vientiane Times news report in Dec. 2020 indicates both Nam Neun projects plan to start exporting their power output to Vietnam in 2024 & 2025. The Nam Neun dams are close to the transmission lines for Nam Sam group that export power to Nong Cong Vietnam and we are guessing those lines may connect to the Nam Neun and Nam Peun projects as shown in the map below. See enlarged version HERE.
