1st Laos-China power tech forum held to boost regional energy cooperation

The first Laos-China Power Technology Forum officially opened at the Naxaythong Substation in Laotian capital of Vientiane on September 18. The forum aims to deepen power cooperation between China and Laos, support Laos’s strategic energy transition, and inject new momentum into building a Laos-China community with a shared future.

A view of the Naxaythong Substation in Vientiane, Laos. Photo/CSGLMI

Hosted by Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), the event was attended by representatives from Laos’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Technology and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the National Disaster Management Committee, and Lao–China Railway Co., Ltd.

Key power plants in Laos and 20 Chinese research institutions and technology service providers were also present, gathering to discuss major cooperation initiatives in the power sector and to collectively plan for the sustainable development of regional energy.

Supported of the leaders of both countries, Laos-China power cooperation has achieved fruitful results. The EDL-T project has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, the power supply capacity for the Laos-China Railway has continued to strengthen. As of August 2025, the cumulative power trade between Laos and China has exceeded 1.56 billion kilowatt-hours.

Mechanisms for grid interconnection, technological coordination, and talent co-cultivation between the two countries have become increasingly well-established. With the launch of the Laos-China 500kV Grid Interconnection Project, power grid interconnection between the two countries will be transformed into reliable energy security that benefits people’s livelihoods and Laos’s sustainable development.

During the forum, all parties reached multiple consensuses and proposed three key initiatives: “Technology Sharing, Talent Co-cultivation, and People-Centered Benefits.”

In technology sharing, the forum aims to promote the implementation of ultra-high voltage transmission and smart distribution network technologies and standards in Laos.

Regarding talent co-cultivation, standardized curriculum systems for power grid planning, dispatch, and operations will be established, while training for key Lao technicians will be continuously expanded.

For people-centered benefits, efforts will be made to further improve power supply reliability in Vientiane and along the Laos-China Railway, reduce distribution network losses, explore power emergency response mechanisms, and deepen Laos-China friendship through public welfare projects.

The EDL-T shared practical experiences in “Technology Empowerment for Main Grid Operation and Maintenance” at the forum. By adopting China Southern Power Grid’s integrated “air, ground, and space” inspection system and intelligent substation maintenance model, the upgrade of Laos’s main grid has achieved remarkable results in 2025.

The line trip rate decreased by 33.3% year-on-year, with zero instances of large-scale blackouts; core substations such as the 230kV Naxaythong have completed intelligent transformation, automatically identifying defects through AI algorithms and improving inspection efficiency by more than 50%.

Transmission lines have achieved full coverage of unmanned aerial vehicle 3D modeling, and the deployment of lightning location systems and other equipment has enabled 100% accuracy in locating line fault points.

Two standards compiled by EDL-T, including the Standardized Management Standards for Substation Operations, have become the first batch of power standards promoted and applied in Laos, filling industry gaps.

In talent development, 53% of substation operation and maintenance personnel have mastered standardized standards, a team of more than 30 transmission personnel from Electricite du Laos (EDL) has acquired advanced skills in drone operation, with 30 individuals now qualified for high-end tasks such as live-line work.

Twenty Chinese power research institutes and technical service providers showcased advanced technologies and solutions in areas including intelligent inspection of power transmission and transformation, online monitoring, and satellite communications through physical displays, exhibition boards, and videos, providing solid technical and service support for deepening Laos-China power cooperation.

All participants unanimously agreed that the successful hosting of the first Laos-China Power Technology Forum has established an important platform for deepening bilateral power technology coordination, talent cultivation, and people-benefiting cooperation, and will drive Laos-China power cooperation to higher levels, contributing to regional energy interconnection and sustainable development.

In the future, Laos-China power cooperation will focus on “energy interconnection” to promote “empowered development,” achieve “capacity co-construction” through “technology sharing,” and continuously expand a new landscape of cooperation across broader fields, deeper levels, and higher standards.