The international community and neighbouring countries should back Laos’
efforts to build hydropower plants because they generate the safest and
cleanest form of renewable energy for the world, a Lao government leader has
said.
“In this respect, I strongly hope
the international community and in particular neighbouring countries will lend
their support to our vision of converting Laos into the battery of Southeast
Asia,” Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad said this week.
He was speaking at the World
Energy Forum 2012 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Monday. The forum was
attended by representatives from various countries, the energy industry sector
and financial institutions from around the world. The conference is one of many
events taking place to mark the UN-designated International Year of Sustainable
Energy for All.
Mr Somsavat said the production
of sustainable energy was not only the policy of the Lao government but was
also an initiative of the United Nations.
“In light of the present world
energy situation, I welcome the bold initiative of Mr Ban Ki-moon, the UN
Secretary-General, to launch the International Year of Sustainable Energy for
All last year. I also support the recommendations voiced from the floor to call
for an in depth study on alternative sources of energy, which is essential to
ensure safe, clean, accessible and sustainable energy sources,” he said.
Mr Somsavat said Laos had
prioritised the development of hydropower plants as the most viable source of
energy for the country, thanks to its abundant water resources. He pointed out
that hydropower plants are not only a source of clean and renewable energy but
also have other associated benefits.
The Lao government uses water
energy sourced from the Mekong tributaries, and Laos has built the 1080MW Nam
Theun 2 hydropower plant, which the World Bank has recognised as a global role
model for clean, safe and renewable energy development.
“Following on from its initial
success in developing this world class hydropower dam, the Lao government is
now embarking on a run-of-river project in the Mekong mainstream to maximise
our renewable sources,” Mr Somsavat said.
In other areas, the Lao
government has set a benchmark for the expansion of forest cover to 65 percent
of the country’s total land area by 2015, and to 70 percent by 2020.
This will enable Laos to fulfil
its policy on sustainable development through green growth and a low carbon
emission oriented approa ch.
Benefiting from its sound policy
on sustainable development and a green growth economy, Laos has been able to
gradually achieve its socio-economic development goals, namely sustained and
sustainable economic growth of more than 7 percent in the past decade.
All of these positive factors
constitute a key impetus for Laos to achieve the Millennium Development Goals
by 2015 and free itself from least developed status by 2020 as planned.
Source: Vientiane Times
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