EDL’s energy imports spike in first 6 months of 2023

Electricite Du Laos’ (EDL) energy imports increased by 208.86 percent in the first six months of this year, with expenditure rising by 522.47 percent compared to the same period of last year.
Because less electricity was generated in Laos than planned, EDL was forced to buy power from other countries to make up the shortfall, EDL’s Managing Director Mr Chanthaboun Soukaloun reported at the company’s mid-year meeting last week.
The amount of energy imported was 1,223GWh, equalling 149.96 percent of the plan for 2023, and costing 1,423 billion kip, which was 169.57 percent of the target figure for this year, he said.
EDL purchased 1,129GWh from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT),  equalling 187.52 percent of the target amount for 2023, which cost 1,312 billion kip, equal to 217.33 percent of the figure set in the plan for this year.
The total amount of energy purchased by EDL from electricity providers in Laos and from other countries reached 7,852GWh, equalling 90.91 percent of the target amount for 2023 and costing 9,007 billion kip, which amounted to 106.60 percent of the annual plan and was 97.86 percent of the amount recorded in 2022, Mr Chanthaboun said.
In the first six months of this year, EDL distributed 7,249GWh of power, equalling 90.21 percent of the target figure for 2023. The sale of this energy generated revenue of 8,187 billion kip, which was only 85.35 percent of the target figure for 2023.
Compared to the same period last year, energy sales were 100.40 percent higher and revenue increased by 145.89 percent because of changes in billing for non-residential customers, Mr Chanthaboun said.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 14, 2023)