Phonesack Xekong power station

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Phonesack Xekong power station is a permitted power station in Kaleum, Sekong, Laos. It is also known as Kaleum Coal Fired Power Plant.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Phonesack Xekong power station	Kaleum, Sekong, Laos	15.7166, 106.65 (approximate)

The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.

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Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year
Phase I	permitted	coal: unknown	300	unknown	2025 (planned)
Phase II	permitted	coal: unknown	600	unknown	2025 (planned)
Phase III	permitted	coal: unknown	900	unknown	2027 (planned)

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner	Parent
Phase I	Xekong Thermal Power Plant Co Ltd [100%]	Phonesack Group Co Ltd
Phase II	Xekong Thermal Power Plant Co Ltd [100%]	Phonesack Group Co Ltd
Phase III	Xekong Thermal Power Plant Co Ltd [100%]	Phonesack Group Co Ltd

Project-level coal details

• Coal source(s): mine-mouth
• Permit(s):

Background

An old iteration of this project consisted of a 2 x 300 MW Thermal Power Plant.

In October 2019, it was reported that Cambodia’s state-owned utility firm Electricite du Cambodge signed a 30-year deal to buy coal power from two producers with a combined capacity of 2,400 MW: the 1,800 MW Xekong power station and the Sekong power station, both situated in Laos’ Sekong province. The two plants were to be built in four phases, commissioned from 2024 to 2027.

In October 2020, an official from the Laos Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) said the construction of a US$400 million power transmission line connecting Cambodia to Laos and the Thai border will start in 2021.

In February 2021, a senior Lao government official said an 1,800 MW coal plant – presumably Xekong – would be built by Phonesack Group Co in the Kaleum district of Sekong (Xekong) province. It was expected to be constructed at a cost of between US$3 billion to US$4 billion and to include the construction of power lines needed to transmit electricity to Cambodia.

In January 2022, PSG Corporation was successful in their tender to become the turnkey contractor for construction works related to Phase I of the project. In June 2022, the company appeared to be hiring a Finance and Accounting Manager for Xekong Power Plant Co. in Kaleum District.

In August 2022, the project's environmental impact assessment was reportedly approved at a meeting co-chaired by the Deputy Governor of Sekong Province and Laos' Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

In September 2022, the Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy reportedly approved the exclusive purchase of 1800 MW of electricity from Xekong Thermal Power Plant Co Limited's Xekong power station. As of October 2022, the project had an expected start date of 2025.

In June 2023, it was reported that the construction contract had been amended to extend the plant's construction period.

In May 2024, Phonesack Group appeared to be hiring for the Xekong Power Plant Co. construction project. Planet imagery showed development around the Phonesack Coal Mine area, which may have been the planned location of Phonesack Xekong power station.

In June 2024, the 1,800 MW power station was mentioned in an article discussing the Prime Minister of Laos' concern over the environmental and social impacts of coal mining in Xekong Province. He urged Phonesack Group to provide more funding for the improvement of local infrastructure and living standards.

As of July 2024, the governments of Laos and Vietnam had begun construction on a six kilometer conveyor belt to export coal mined in Laos to Vietnam. The largest related mine was Phonesack Group's coal mine in Xekong Province, which was exporting all of its coal to Vietnam by truck. However, reporting also mentioned plans to develop coal plants in Laos: Phonesack Xekong power station, Sekong power station (EPIC) and TSBP Sekong power station.

Opposition

In October 2021, Bridget McIntosh, country director of EnergyLab Cambodia, argued that by damping economic activity and the growth in demand for power, the pandemic had given Phnom Penh the chance to rethink its strategy – particularly plans to import 2.4 GW of coal power from Laos. "If the 2,400MW of coal imported from Laos will struggle to get finance now, wouldn't it be better to invest in solar and wind in Cambodia?" she said. "It would result in billions of dollars of investment, local green jobs and much needed economic stimulus."

Financing

The project's cost was estimated at US$3 billion to US$4 billion, including the construction of power lines needed to transmit electricity to Cambodia.

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.