200-Hour Outage Begins Maintenance Contract at Nam Theun 2

Feb. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- The Nam Theun 2 Multi-Purpose Project in Laos has completed its first scheduled maintenance outage, with the main survey work carried out by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) under a newly-signed agreement.

The project ceased generation for 200 hours from January 22 to allow dewatering of the penstock system and thorough examination of the tunnels, generating units and downstream release system. This first scheduled outage was carried out ten months after the Nam Theun 2 Power Station began commercial generation in March 2010.

The Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) and EGAT signed a five-year maintenance contract on January 20 this year. NTPC Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pierre Katz said EGAT had been selected on account of its wide experience and proven expertise, coupled with the proximity of its maintenance staff to the project site. In addition, as the chief customer for electricity from Nam Theun 2, EGAT shares a common interest in ensuring that the highest safety and efficiency standards are maintained at the plant.

All scheduled maintenance was successfully achieved during the outage and each of the Power Station’s six generating units was back on line at the end of the 200-hour period. Nam Theun 2 features four 250-mw Francis Units and two 40-mw Pelton Units.

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The Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) is the developer and operator of the Nam Theun 2 Multi-Purpose Project in the Lao PDR. The Project is a public-private partnership designed to generate electricity for export to Thailand and domestic use in Laos. Revenues accruing to the Lao government during NTPC's concession period, estimated at over US$2 billion, are used to fund poverty alleviation in the country. Nam Theun 2 is structured as an industrial and a development Project, placing great emphasis on protection of the environment and sustainable social programmes to improve the livelihoods of people in the Project area. After 25 years of operation from 2010, the Project will be transferred to the Lao State. See www.namtheun2.com.