Electricity in Laos in 2021

In 2021, the composition of electricity sources in Laos was largely dominated by low-carbon energy, nearly three-fourths of the total electricity consumption. Hydroelectricity, a type of low-carbon energy, made up an almost identical percentage. Around a quarter of the country's electricity was generated from fossil fuels; the entirety of this portion came from coal. Although present, biofuels contributed a negligible amount.

Suggestions

For Laos to augment its low-carbon electricity production, the country might consider emulating strategies employed by nations with similar resources and energy needs. It could take cues from France, Slovakia, and Ukraine, countries where over half of the electricity is produced using nuclear power. While harnessing wind energy, as done effectively in Denmark and Ireland, may not be applicable in Laos given its geographical and climate conditions. Laos can also look at the success in nuclear energy achieved by Belgium, Hungary, Slovenia, and Czechia, which generate more than a third of their electricity from nuclear power. The advantage of nuclear power is that, unlike hydro, it doesn't depend on specific geographical features and can be used to provide a significant share of power in many different countries.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Laos is largely characterized by hydroelectric power. In the latter decades of the 20th century, notably from 1987 till 2000, the hydroelectric output experienced fluctuations with both increments and declines. However, the growth has been fairly consistent from 2010 onward, despite minor contractions in 2014 and 2015. The year 2010 was particularly pivotal for hydroelectric power in Laos, as it witnessed a substantial jump of 5 TWh. Biofuels made a modest entry into the electricity mix in 2018, contributing an extra 0.4 TWh. Unfortunately, 2019 saw a significant drop in hydroelectric generation; however, this decrease was markedly offset the following year with an increase of 8.8 TWh. The data underscores hydroelectricity as the backbone of Laos' progress towards a low-carbon energy future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources