Laos and China have completed the full connection of the Laos–China 500 kV power transmission line, further strengthening cross-border energy cooperation (Laotian Times, 05/02/2026). The line spans 177 km between the 500 kV Nam Mo 3 substation in Laos’ Nam Mo district, Oudomxay Province, and the 500 kV Xishuangbanna substation in China’s Jinghong City, Yunnan Province.
Full commercial operations are planned for April 2026. Once operational, the project will enable two-way transmission capacity of 1.5 GW, delivering approximately 3 TWh/year of clean electricity (Xinhua, 05/02/2026).
Lao PDR is often called the “Battery of Southeast Asia” due to its vast hydropower potential and strategic location as a regional transmission hub. Electricity exports accounted for 75% of total production in 2024 (around 40 TWh), with interconnections to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore (Enerdata Global Energy Research).