VIENTIANE, Laos, April 3 (NNN-KPL) – Laos has taken a step towards the development of electric vehicles, with the launch of a pilot project of vehicle battery charging stations.
The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines is set to work with the private sector on the project, as part of efforts to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and support government’s move, to minimise the use of fossil fuels.
“We are heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, which always causes a huge deficit annually. Therefore, this pilot project, on the use of electric vehicles will be very helpful in decreasing the consumption of fuel,” Minister of Energy and Mines, Khammany Inthirath, said, during an event to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the project.
“Laos has abundant potential for the use of natural resources such as water, solar power, wind and waste. These could be used to generate 26,000 MW. So far, about 20 percent of this potential has been developed,” he said.
The minister said that in 2016 Laos imported almost 2,000 million litres of fuel, worth more than one billion U.S. dollars.
Prior to a workshop on electric vehicles, state-run Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed an MoU with EV Lao Co., Ltd, for a feasibility study on charging stations, which will be jointly implemented by the two sectors.
EDL’s Managing Director, Boun-oum Syvanpheng, said, his firm has been actively studying charging systems for electric vehicles, as part of preparations for changing over to clean energy.
President of EV Lao Co., Ltd, Bounleuth Luangpraseuth, said, charging stations could be installed at public and private locations, and called for recommendations from the public and private sector for the development and operation of electric vehicles in Laos.– NNN-KPL
