The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) of the Lao PDR, through its Department of Energy Policy and Planning (DEPP), had formally requested the cooperation of the Nam Theun 2 to host a high-level delegation from the Mekong River Commission (MRC), member countries of the Lower Mekong Basin, and the Australian National University (ANU) for a site visit to Nam Theun 2 on May 29, 2025.
This visit was part of a broader two-day regional consultation on sustainable hydropower development and water-energy integration, supported by the Australian Government through ANU and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The event will culminate in a regional meeting on May 30 at the Riveria Hotel in Thakhek, Khammouane Province.
The initiative aims to:
- Draw lessons from NT2’s reservoir management for sustainable hydropower.
- Explore adaptive basin planning for water security and climate resilience.
- Examine renewable energy development options, including floating solar and pumped hydro energy storage (PHES).
- Review Phase 1 dam operation data and provide input for Phase 2.
- Discuss national hydropower database updates and energy development plans.
ANU’s Technical Contributions
ANU has played a pivotal role in supporting the MRC’s Proactive Regional Planning (PRP) process. Their work includes:
- Developing atlases identifying over 25,000 potential PHES sites across the Mekong region.
- Using the FIRM model to optimize energy planning and integrate solar, wind, and PHES.
- Publishing key reports on water-energy integration and renewable energy scenarios.
Agenda Highlights
Day 1 – May 29:
- Site visit to NT2 Hydropower Project, including operational briefings and a tour of proposed bluefield PHES sites.
Day 2 – May 30:
- Presentations on ANU’s modeling tools and PHES atlas.
- Discussions on dam data sharing, hydropower database updates, and national energy plans.
- Case studies from Australia on re-operating conventional hydropower for multiple benefits.
Participants
The event will gather over 60 representatives from MRC member countries, ANU, DFAT, EGAT, EDF, CK Power, NTPC and other regional stakeholders. Each country is expected to send five delegates, including hydropower focal points, consultants, and dam operators.
