Construction of the $5 billion Luang Prabang Mekong Hydropower Project in northern Laos has reached 72 percent completion, according to project officials cited during a joint ministerial site visit on July 18, 2026. Laos’ Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith and Thailand’s Minister of Energy Ekaniti Promphan toured the site in the Chomphet and Pak Ou districts near Luang Prabang to review construction progress and discuss the project’s role in the two countries’ clean energy plans.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Construction is 72 percent complete as of the July 18, 2026 site visit
- The project is valued at approximately $5 billion
- Location: Mekong River, Chomphet and Pak Ou districts, about 25 kilometers from Luang Prabang town
- Delegations were led by Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith and Thai Minister of Energy Ekaniti Promphan
- The plant is designed for an installed capacity of roughly 1,400 to 1,460 megawatts
- Ownership includes CK Power, CH. Karnchang, Gulf Hydropower, and PT Sole Co., according to project documentation
- The project is one of the largest energy infrastructure developments currently under construction in Laos
- Power output is intended primarily for domestic use and export to neighboring countries, supporting Laos’ role as a regional electricity supplier
Ministers from Laos and Thailand inspected construction at the Luang Prabang Mekong Hydropower Project on July 18, with local broadcaster Luang Prabang Television reporting the project had reached 72 percent completion. The site visit brought together officials from both countries’ energy and commerce ministries, alongside provincial officials including the Head of the Luang Prabang Provincial Department of Industry and Commerce, Soulixay Hongsakhone.
Regional Energy Role
The hydropower plant is a run-of-river facility on the Mekong mainstream, situated between the Pak Beng project upstream and the Xayaburi project downstream. Officials said the project is expected to create employment and income opportunities for surrounding communities as construction continues. The milestone was described as one of the largest energy infrastructure developments currently underway in Laos, framing it within the country’s broader strategy of expanding hydropower capacity for both domestic supply and cross-border export.
Project documentation indicates the plant is designed to generate roughly 6,500 to 6,854 gigawatt-hours annually once operational, with power intended largely for Thailand and Vietnam alongside domestic Lao consumption. Ownership of the developer, Luang Prabang Power Company Limited, has been reported as split among CK Power, CH. Karnchang, Gulf Hydropower, and PT Sole Co.
Publicly available details on the exact remaining construction timeline and updated commissioning date were not addressed in the July 18 site visit coverage, and reporting on the milestone remains limited to Lao and regional outlets.