dam-l LS: Stand by our agreement, argues Laos

[Aviva Imhof <aviva@irn.org>]

>BKK Post / 16 August 1999
>
>ELECTRICITY PURCHASES
>Stand by our agreement, argues Laos
>Minister urges Thai empathy, friendship
>
>Wasant Techawongtham
>Vientiane
>   Laotian Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad has called 
>on Thailand to maintain the prices paid for electricity 
>generated by hydroelectric projects in Laos as a gesture of 
>friendship and neighbourliness.
>   "We hope Thailand will empathise with Laos and maintain 
>the prices to help us (develop the country)," said Mr 
>Somsavat, also a deputy prime minister, on Friday.
>   He was referring to ongoing negotiations between the 
>Laotian and Thai governments over the prices paid by the 
>Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand for 
>electricity from the Nam Ngum 2 and 3 dams.
>   In an attempt to cut costs, Egat has informed Laos that 
>it would pay 1.08 baht per unit of power rather than three 
>different rates based on different times of the day. Those 
>rates range from three to 5.78 US cents (1.11 to 2.14 baht 
>at current exchange rates).
>   A flat rate would represent a 25% reduction on current 
>levels.
>   Under a 12-year contract that began in 1991, the Nam 
>Ngum rate can be adjusted every four years. The current 
>four-year term ends in September.
>   Mr Somsavat also reiterated the Laotian proposal to 
>Thailand to start purchasing additional electricity-600 MW 
>in 2004, 1,000 MW in 2005 and 1,700 MW in 2006.
>   Thai officials have rejected the proposal. Citing 
>current economic difficulties, Egat has counter-proposed to 
>begin purchasing 1,600 MW in 2006 and an additional 1,700 
>in 2008.
>   Mr Somsavat made his pleas during a meeting with a group 
>of Thai journalists who paid a courtesy call as 
>representatives of the Reporters' Association Thailand.
>   The journalists, led by association president Kavi 
>Chongkittavorn, visited Thailand's northeastern neighbour 
>during Aug 9-13 as guests of the Lao Journalists 
>Association. The two associations have exchanged 
>delegations for the past few years.
>   At a seminar to evaluate the role of the mass media in 
>promoting relations between the two countries, members of 
>both associations agreed that the Thai media has been more 
>careful in presenting news about Laos.
>   Laotian officials had made several complaints in the 
>past about the Thai media making insensitive remarks.
>   Buabarn Vorakun, deputy minister of information and 
>culture and president of the Lao Journalists Association, 
>said the Thai-Lao relationship has improved since the two 
>media organisations established a relationship 13 years 
>ago.
>   Seminars will be held to work out a list of Thai and Lao 
>words which are communication traps.
>   A reporter exchange programme may also be established to 
>allow journalists from both countries a chance to improve 
>their understanding of the two countries on equal ground.
>   Mr Buabarn said Lao journalists appreciated the freedom 
>and diversity of the Thai media.
>   However, he asked that Thai journalists also appreciate 
>the different conditions under which the Lao media must 
>operate.
>
>


*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Aviva Imhof
South-East Asia Campaigner
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94703 USA
Tel: + 1 510 848 1155 (ext. 312), Fax: + 1 510 848 1008
Email: aviva@irn.org, Web: http://www.irn.org
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

---

• Prev by Date: dam-l Cameroon water crisis/LS
• Next by Date: dam-l LS: Short-term loss is Thai gain on Lao power deal
• Prev by thread: dam-l Cameroon water crisis/LS
• Next by thread: dam-l LS: Short-term loss is Thai gain on Lao power deal
• Index(es):
  • Main
  • Thread