Laos map

Thai officials say they are considering to increase their purchase of hydro-power from Laos, from the originally-agreed upon 5,000 megawatts in 2015 to 7,000 MW by 2020.

The head of Thailand's EGAT tells VOA that Lao authorities have proposed to sell more electricity to Thailand, and he thinks there will be no problem for his country to accept that proposal because Thailand's need for energy is constantly on the rise.

The two sides expect to sign an MOU by early next year for Thailand

NT2 transmission line by Shannon of IRN

to purchase electricity from Laos' Nam Theun 1, Nam Ngum 3, Nam Ngiep, and the Theun-Hinboun extention project.

The Thai official also says the two countries will sign five purchase agreements by the end of this year, which will allow Thailand to buy electricity from four other hyfro-power dams in Laos and one lignite project in Hongsa district of Laos' Sayabouly province.

Laos says it has enough water resources to build 50 dams, capable of generating over 28,000 megawatts of electricity. And it is currently trying to attract enough foreign investments to build 29 dams by the year 2020.