Nam San 3 Dams Hydropower Info - Go to Hydropower Projects Page - - Home
Nam San 3A & 3B dams info combined on this web page. These projects were at one time around 2013 called Nam Sane 3A & 3B while planned under a MOU by Thailand-based Padaeng Industry Public Co Ltd. before Lao-based Phongsubthavy Group took over the project.
China-based Dongfang Electric was involved as a major contractor. The project was completed in March 2016.
Nam San 3A & 3B are both located in Xieng Khouang Province Lao PDR on the Nam San (river) that flows south eventually merging with the Mekong River near Paksan. Both projects are close to the border with Vietnam. Nam San 3A is in Khoun District while 3B is in Thathom District.
Nam San 3A dam is located near Muang Nga village while 3A Powerhouse is near Ban Hine Toc. Nam San 3B Powerhouse and Valve House are both located just north of Thathom town.
Nam San 3A generates 69 MW from 2 Dongfang Electric pelton turbines at 34.5 MW nameplate capacity each. Can generate annual electricity output of 364 GWh.
Nam San 3B generates 45 MW from 2 Dongfang Electric turbines at 15 MW nameplate capacity each. Can generate annual electricity output of 232 GWh.
Nam San 3A & 3B projects satellite image layout below. We are guessing about the two underground conduit pipes added to this image as we don't have evidence that they exist other than logic that the water must somehow get from the dam reservoirs to the powerhouses and nothing is visible on the satellite image.
Nam San 3A dam site images below:
Nam Sam 3B dam site image below at coordinates - 19°05'05.7"N 103°37'12.4"E (19.084924, 103.620103).
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Nam San 3A and Nam San 3B hydropower plant projects were at one time owned by Lao-based Phongsubthavy Group but have been sold to Thai-based BCPG Plc.
BCPG Plc, the renewable power arm of Bangchak Corporation Plc, has taken over Nam San 3B Power Sole Co, operating a hydropower plant and transmission line system in Laos in a deal worth US$ 113 million. BCPG invested through its wholly-owned BCPG Indochina Co. (BIC), acquiring all shares owned by Lao-based Phongsubthavy Group (PSG).
This deal is its second takeover of a hydropower plant by BCPG. The first project was the Nam San 3A HPP with power generation of 69 MW, located in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. The Nam San 3A project was acquired in September 2019 in a deal worth US $174 million
From 2022 the two hydro power projects of BCPG - Nam San 3A and Nam San 3B - will be under power purchase agreement with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) for 25 years, resulting in an extension of the power purchase agreement period from 2042 to 2047. When Nam San 3A & 3B commence commercial operation with EVN the power purchase agreements with EDL will be terminated.
Nam San 3A has a Commercial Operating Date (COD) of 29 January 2016 which started the 27 year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Concession Agreement with Lao government.
Nam San 3B has Commercial Operating Date (COD) of 25 August 2015 which started the 27 year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Concession Agreement with Lao government.
Image below shows Nam San 3A & 3B locations and offtake terms.
Nam San 3A dam site location shown in satellite images below at coordinates 19°07'49.2"N 103°39'44.3"E (19.130329, 103.662314)
Nam San 3A powerhouse location shown in satellite image below at coordinates - 19°05'15.9"N 103°37'40.5"E (19.087742, 103.627918):
Nam San 3A powerhouse & 3B Dam sites shown in satellite images below:
Nam San 3A powerhouse satellite image below:
Nam San 3B powerhouse and Valve House locations shown in satellite image below:
Nam San 3B powerhouse site shown in satellite image below at coordinates - 19°00'59.5"N 103°36'00.1"E (19.016524, 103.600029):
Nam San 3B dam structure images below:
Nam San 3B powerhouse image below:
Nam San 3A control image below:
Nam San 3B control images below:
Nam San 3B powerhouse interior image below:
Nam San 3B switchyard below:
Nam San 3A & 3B Hydropower projects are located on right side of map below:
A new 79 km 220kV Transmission Line will be built to the substation located at the border of Lao-Vietnam and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Nam San 3A & 3B hydropower projects are two of 11 hydropower plants planning to sell electricity to Vietnam through a 79 km 220kV transmission line Nam Mo - Tuong Duong (Nghe An) invested by Phongsubthavy Group for the section in Laos and Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) for the section in Vietnam. The transmission line was originally scheduled for completion in 2022. See image below.
The output from both plants is being exported to Vietnam via the new 79 km 220 kV transmission line since June 15, 2023 under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Electricity of Vietnam (EVN). BCPG Indochina Co. also has a joint investment in the 220 kV transmission line.
Nam San 3B transmission line maps below for export to Vietnam.
Nam San 3 transmission line connection seen in map below. See enlarged version HERE.
Nam San 3 220 kV transmission line images below:
Satellite image map below for Nam Ngiep River Basin hydropower projects:
Nam Ngum, Nam Ngiep & Nam Xan area relief map below before reservoirs.
