Going the extra mile

Nam Kong 3, Lao PDR

ANDRITZ has successfully commissioned and handed over the 54 MW Nam Kong 3 project.

Out door switchyard Nam Kong 3

Nam Kong 3 is a storage hydropower plant located in the Lamong village in the Attapeu Provice in southern Laos. The December 2021 commissioning and hand over is in line with the power evacuation plan of the owner Chaleun Sekong Energy Co., Ltd (CSE).

CSE is one of the leading independent power producers in Lao PDR and in 2018 awarded ANDRITZ a contract for the whole electro-mechanical package of Nam Kong 3. The contract scope comprised design, supply, transportation, installation, and commissioning of three compact vertical Francis units with a capacity of 18 MW each, including main inlet valves, generators, electrical power systems and the entire balance of plant.

This project embraced multi-cultural participation in the form of Poyry Energy Limited as owner’s engineer, China Ghezuba Group Company as civil contractor, Whessoe as hydro-mechanical contractor, and ANDRITZ as the contractor for the entire electro-mechanical equipment.

As entry into Laos was restricted at that time due to COVID-19, in order to meet the customer’s deadline, ANDRITZ went the extra mile and arranged for commissioning engineers from locations such as China, Indonesia and Bhutan to meet the project requirements. In addition, ANDRITZ supported client requirements by arranging local manpower. Furthermore, deliveries of equipment were kept in place despite the severe impact of COVID, and commissioning was still achieved within the given deadline.

Power generated from the project is delivered to Électricité du Laos (EDL), a state corporation that owns and operates the country’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution assets.

ANDRITZ takes immense pride in the fact that the client’s targets could be met despite COVID-related restrictions and is glad to further contribute to Laos’ hydropower sector.