Laos’ Monsoon Wind Power Project Exports Electricity to Vietnam

Laos’ Monsoon Wind Power Project has begun supplying electricity to Vietnam’s national grid under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Vietnam’s state-owned utility company. Launched in 2023, following a signed agreement between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Monsoon Wind Power Company Limited (Monsoon), the $692.55 million project marks the first cross-border wind power project in Asia, the first plant in Lao PDR, and the largest plant in Southeast Asia. Located in the Dak Cheung district of Sekong Province and the Sanxai district of Attapeu Province, it spans 68,000 hectares (ha) and has an installed capacity of 600 Megawatts (MW). Its 133 wind turbines connect to Vietnam’s power grid through a 500-kilovolt (KV) transmission line system that crosses the Lao-Vietnam border.  

Given that Laos has long relied on hydropower as one of its key drivers of economic growth since the 1990s, the project enables Laos to harness its largely untapped wind energy potential, providing a sustainable resource for domestic consumption and export. It is also expected to offset approximately 1.3 million tons of CO₂ annually. On a regional scale, the project aligns with the ASEAN Power Grid vision. This ASEAN Power Grid aims to establish an integrated electricity network across the 10 ASEAN member states, facilitating cross-border power trading. Beyond energy outcomes, the Monsoon Wind Power Project has also benefited the local community. Since construction began in March 2023, it has created at least 1,600 jobs, with over 1,000 of these positions filled by Lao nationals, speaking to the economic and societal benefits of renewable energy investment and proliferation across ASEAN.