Page "Reservoirs and dams in Laos" Paragraph 2

All existing and potential dams are on tributaries of Laos's main river, the Mekong.

The country's earliest major dam is on the Ngum river near Vientiane, providing 150MW mainly for domestic consumption.

Completed in 1971 with Japanese aid, it flooded of forest and farmland to create the country's largest reservoir.

Other major schemes are for export of electricity.

Currently, the largest dam is the Houay-Ho dam in the south of the country producing 150MW.

One of the most productive has been the Theun-Hinboun scheme in the center of the country.

With a relatively small dam and reservoir, it works by transferring most of the Nam Theun River to the neighbouring ( and lower ) Nam Hinboun River by tunnel, producing 210MW.

Theun-Hinboun provides substantial economic benefits to Laos through energy sales to neighboring Thailand, local energy supplies in Laos, and regional development benefits.