Nam Chiane 1 Dam (Nam Chian 1) Hydropower in Laos by Hobo Maps- Go to Hydropower Projects Page - - - HOME

Nam Chiane 1 Hydropower Project is located on the upper Nam Chiane (river) in central Laos. Nam Chiane is a tributary of the Nam Ngiep (river) which joins the Mekong near Paksan. The project is about 70 km southeast of Phonsavanh and the Plain of Jars, a few km above National Road 1D as it heads south towards Paksan and the Mekong.

The project is also known as Nam Chian, Nam Chiean and Nam Chien.

Nam Chiane 1 Dams and reservoir images below:

The Project is located at the southern slope of Xieng Khouang Plateau where terrain is high in the north and low in the south. The elevation at the dam site is generally 900 to 1300 meters above sea level while the lower power plant site to the south is 450 to 500 meters above sea level. The Project sites go from Keosed village in Khoun district, Xieng Khuang province to Samkothong village in Thathom district, Xaysomboun province. The main dam is located in Xieng Khoung Province and the powerhouse is in Xaysomboun Province.

Satellite image map below for Nam Ngiep River Basin hydropower projects:

The Nam Chiane HPP powerhouse is located on the left bank of Nam Chiane river. There is a gross head of about 600 meters.

Installed capacity is 104 MW (2 x 52 MW vertical Pelton turbine sets) with optimal annual energy output of 451 GWh per year.

Nam Chiane 1 project layout below - not to scale and north is not at top:

Construction of Nam Chiane 1 HPP was started in 2013 and the project was completed in March 2018. The project cost was estimated at US$ 250 million.

This Lao state-owned hydropower project was developed by Electricite du Laos (EDL) but now owned and managed by EDL GEN. China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Company Limited was the project developer pursuant to an engineering, procurement and construction contract signed Dec. 2012.

Nam Chiane 1 Dam location shown in satellite image below:

The power generated may have been planned to be transmitted to the Thavieng Substation for local consumption mainly in Xieng Khouang Province but a later report has it as being exported to Vietnam. Not sure which is the case now.

Nam Chiane 1 HPP powerhouse site images below located at coordinates 19°03'54.8"N 103°31'16.4"E (19.065210, 103.521220):

The watershed area upstream of the north dam site of Nam Chiane river contains 281 sq km. Watershed area upstream of the south dam site of Nam Tong Sai river is 41 sq km and the combined watersheds are 322 sq km.

A smaller North Reservoir holds water that is channeled down in a tunnel to the larger South Reservoir.

The total reservoir capacity is 14 million cubic meters.

The project includes a rock-filled dam with clay core 93 meters high and 294 meters long, a flushing sluice, access tunnels, power plant buildings and switching plants. The surge tower is 110 meters high and 10 meters in diameter.

There is a tunnel 7,390 meters long and a penstock 2,525 meters long. The headrace is 533 meters long.

Nam Chiane 1 penstock, blue-roof powerhouse & switchyard images below:

Nam Chiane 1 layout image below:

Nam Chiane 1 dam images below:

Nam Chiane 1 penstock images below:

Nam Chiane 1 control images below:

Nam Chiane 1 control room below:

Nam Chiane 1 powerhouse interior image below:

Nam Chiane 1 intake structure images below - for both North & South reservoirs.

Nam Chiane 1 discharge tailrace channel image below:

Headrace tunnel adit entrance image below:

Nam Chiane 1 channel image shown below:

North Reservoir

• Check Flood Level: 1065.38 meters above sea level
• Releasing Discharge : 1897 cubic meters per second
• Design Flood Level : 1061.56 meters above sea level
• Releasing Discharge : 1206 cubic meters per second
• Elevation of free overflow weir crest: 1061 meters above sea level

South Reservoir

• Check Flood Level: 1062.63 meters above sea level
• Releasing Discharge : 800 cubic meters per second
• Design Flood Level: 1062 meters above sea level
• Releasing Discharge: 533 cubic meters per second
• Normal pool level: 1060 meters above sea level
• Dead storage level: 1040 meters above sea level

Output

• Installed Capacity: 104 MW (2 x 52 MW)
• Mean annual energy output: 451 GWh per year (seems optimistic)

Main Dam

• Type: Rockfill dam with clay core (RCC)
• Foundation characteristics: Granite (Plinth foundation)
• Crest elevation/ breast wall top elevation: 1066 meters above sea level
• Maximum dam height: 93 meters
• Dam crest length: 294.5 meters

Turbine

• Type: 2 x 53.61 MW (vertical Pelton)
• Rated speed of rotation: 428.6 rpm
• Rated head: 533 meters
• Rated discharge: 11.43 cubic meters per second

Generator

• Type: Model: SF55-14/4850 (2 sets)
• Rate Power: 52 MW
• Rated capacity: 57.78 MVA

Water Releasing Structure

• Spillway (Positive slot type on the river bank, free overflow)
• Foundation : Granite
• Crest level: 1060 meters above sea level
• Dead water level 1,040 meters above sea level
• Free overflow weir length: 80 meters
• Energy dissipating mode: Ski-jump style

Transmission line for transfer of output is a two circuit 115 kv line.

Nam Chiane 1 reservoir images below:

Nam Chiane 1 switchyard image below with red roof.

Nam Chiane plant facilities below:

Nam Chiane 1 Project is shown on right side of map below:

Click HERE to see our hydropower web page for the greater Nam Ngiep catchment basin which describes the various dams, reservoirs and diversion projects in the drainage basin which are often inter-connected.

Watershed maps below show Nam Chian(e) and Nam Ngiep Hydropower Projects:

Nice 2022 video of Nam Chiane 1 hydropower project HERE .