(KPL) The Attapeu Provincial Administration Office has announced needed relief aid for flood victims in Sanamxay district following the collapse of under construction Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam.

The dam collapsed at 20.00 hours on Monday, Jul 23 releasing 0.5 billion cubic metres of water with several houses in the southern part of Sanamxay swept away, several human lives claimed, and several hundreds of people missing.

Authorities of Attapeu Province have urged Party, government organizations, business community, officials, police and military forces and people of all strata  to provide emergency aid for the victims of the disaster namely: clothing, food items, drinking water, medicines, cash and other relief items.

Being constructed by Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC), the 410 MW Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydroelectric power project is located in the southern region of the Lao PDR and is estimated to have an annual energy generation of approximately 1,860 GWh, according to www.power-technology.com.

PNPC is a joint-venture formed in March 2012 by SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH), and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). SK E&C holds 24% stake in PNPC, LHSE 26%, and RATCH and KOWEPO equally own the remaining share in the project.

The project, which is estimated to cost US$1.02bn, is the first build-operate-transfer (BOT) project to be undertaken by the Korean companies in Laos.

The feasibility study for the hydroelectric project was completed in November 2008. Construction of the project began in February 2013 and commercial operations are expected to begin in 2018.

KPL