On April 7 (local time), the commissioning conference of the CGN Northern Laos Clean Energy Base Phase I 1,000 MW PV Project (hereinafter referred to as the "Laos Phase I Project") was held in Vientiane, Laos, marking the official commissioning of the largest single PV project in Southeast Asia. Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone attended the ceremony and announced the commissioning of the Project.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong, Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith, Lao Governor of Oudomxay Province Phongsavanh Sayavong, and Lao Krittaphong Group President Orlathay Santikhongkha attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Yang Changli, Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Corporation, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. More than 200 people participated in the event, including Buakhong Nammavong (Minister and Director of the General Office of the Lao Prime Minister's Office), Phosay Sayasone (Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos), Yao Bin (President of the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Lao Krittaphong Group), Li Yilun (Deputy General Manager of China General Nuclear Power Corporation), Zhang Chaoqun (Chairman of CGN Energy International Holdings Co., Limited), representatives of various ministries, provinces, and departments of the Lao government, relevant personnel of the Chinese Embassy in Laos, representatives of partners such as China Southern Power Grid Lancang-Mekong International Co., Ltd., representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises in Laos, industrial chain cooperation units, relevant construction units, and media from both countries.

▲ the commissioning ceremony of the cgn northern laos clean energy base phase I 1,000 mw pv project

The Project is the supporting power source for China-Laos power interconnection, the first overseas million-kilowatt clean energy greenfield project independently planned and developed by CGN, and the first large-scale mountain PV project in Laos. The Project is located in Muang Xay District and Namor District, Oudomxay Province, Laos, with an expected average annual power generation of 1.65 billion kWh and an equivalent reduction of approximately 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. During the construction process, CGN has promoted the establishment of Laos' first institution focusing on power standard research - Lao Clean Energy Power Standard Research Institute, facilitating the quality improvement and upgrading of China-Laos power cooperation with "soft connectivity" of rules and standards. In terms of ecological protection, the Project has taken measures such as precise surveying, optimized array layout, construction avoidance, and ecological restoration to safeguard the original ecological environment. The good practices of various "garden-style" power plants have been awarded the "Green Energy Quality Certification" by the Lao government.

▲ cgn northern laos clean energy base phase I 1,000 mw pv project

The Project has driven more than 70 industrial chain enterprises from China and Laos to participate in the construction, bringing tangible economic and social benefits to the local area. According to statistics, during the peak construction period, the Project has provided nearly 3,000 local jobs, repaired roads and reinforced a total of 5 bridges, and has continuously improved local infrastructure. Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith said at the scene that the Project has not only promoted the effective implementation of China-Laos power interconnection, but also created a large number of job opportunities and driven the development of related industries in Laos.

▲ cgn northern laos clean energy base phase I 1,000 mw pv project

In terms of industrial chain driving, the Project has driven more than 40 Chinese enterprises in new energy manufacturing, construction, and building industry chains, as well as more than 30 Lao local enterprises in construction, machinery supply, and raw material supply to jointly participate in the construction, striving to create a benchmark project for power cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong region. Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong said that China is willing to work with Laos to deepen practical cooperation in the energy field through clean energy cooperation, promote the construction of a cleaner, safer, and more efficient regional energy system, enhance regional development support capabilities, and assist Laos in sustainable development.

▲ cgn handed over donated operating rooms and medical equipment to muang sing district hospital in luang namtha province

Meanwhile, CGN has deeply implemented the "Firefly Program" social responsibility brand in Laos, trained nearly a hundred local engineers through "Egret Classes", and launched public welfare projects such as Chinese Classes and Firefly Workshops to share development outcomes with local people, creating a vivid demonstration of people-to-people connectivity between China and Laos. At the commissioning ceremony, CGN handed over donated operating rooms and medical equipment to Muang Sing District Hospital in Luang Namtha Province, and simultaneously launched construction and renovation projects for Chiao Karo Primary School and Ma Zhu Village Office in Oudomxay Province, as well as Nong Sawan Primary School in Phongsaly Province, strengthening the deep friendship within the China-Laos community with a shared future through practical actions.

Yang Changli, Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Corporation, said that 2026 marks the "Year of China-Laos Friendship". CGN will accelerate the implementation of subsequent clean energy projects in the five northern provinces of Laos, actively explore the central and southern markets, and make every effort to promote China-Laos interconnection towards deeper levels and broader fields, so as to contribute more to building a closer China-Laos community with a shared future through clean energy cooperation.