The energy-sector vision was reported by WWF-Lao in Vientiane last week and presented to technical staff from the relevant government sectors.

The report outlines energy use at present and in the future and suggests the types of energy that should be invested in and could provide high benefit, WWF-Lao country director Somphone Bouasavanh said at the meeting.

The report will be a source of reference for government agencies when analysing energy-sector development in Laos.

It will also benefit conservation organisations in implementing the projects, he said.

Laos has an opportunity to become a leader in clean, renewable electricity. Renewable energy sources such as sun, wind, water and biomass energy abound on its territory.

Choices made in the coming months and years could lead to seizing opportunities to leapfrog and embrace the best technologies now or to continue over-reliance on power generation by heavily polluting high-carbon fossil fuel, non-sustainable large-scale hydropower projects, or even a dependence on risky and costly nuclear power. Currently, about a million people do not yet have access to reliable electricity in Laos.

Laos is dependent on hydropower and coal mainly and its Renewable Energy Development Strategy to 2025 follows that trend with the share of non-hydro renewable energies reaching only 10 per cent of the national electricity mix capacity by 2025.

This report shows that another future is possible, where a more diverse mix of renewable sources can meet Laos’ electricity demand and export strategy by 2050, with 44.5 per cent of the installed capacity met by sustainable renewable energies by 2025.

By using this amount of renewable energy reasonably and tapping the large energy-efficiency potential, it will be possible to reduce very significantly Laos’ dependence on fossil fuel or future uranium imports, accelerate access to electricity for all, and ensure stable and competitive electricity prices for both domestic use and export for decades to come.

It will also increase job creation, especially in rural areas where jobs are needed to prevent a massive rural exodus, increase positive cooperation in the region to optimise electricity consumption and production, and reduce environmental and social impacts at all levels.

A sustainable approach to high renewable-energy uptake can ensure electricity-cost stability and maintain system security – that is, provide enough electricity at all times to make sure there is never a risk of the “lights going out”.