CWE Celebrates Nam Ngiep 2 Hydropower Station’s 10-Year Milestone
The China International Water & Electric Corp. (CWE) celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Nam Ngiep 2 Hydropower Station with the “Lancang Mekong Green Course” Open Day event on July 4-5, 2025, in Vientiane, Laos. This event highlighted the station’s contributions to local energy stability and ecology over the past decade, attracting participants from the National University of Laos, government officials, and community members.
The Nam Ngiep 2 Hydropower Station, which began commercial operations in October 2015, has a total installed capacity of 180 MW. Over the past ten years, it has generated more than 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, benefiting approximately 780,000 residents and significantly enhancing energy security in northern Laos. In recognition of its achievements, the station received the Second-Class Labor Medal from the Laotian government in 2022.
Engaging Local Communities and Youth
The Open Day event was designed to foster engagement among local university students and youth through five thematic modules: Practical Class, Research Class, Science Class, Activity Class, and Culture Class. A photo exhibition titled “10 Years of Development of Nam Ngiep 2” showcased the station’s milestones in construction, operational management, environmental initiatives, and community involvement.
Participants learned about hydropower generation and the multifunctional role of water conservancy projects. Polin Xuangmany, a student from the Faculty of Engineering at the National University of Laos, expressed her gratitude, stating, “This event taught me so many things beyond the textbooks. I saw firsthand how the station operates and felt the commitment of Chinese enterprises to social responsibility and ecological protection.”
In the Activity Class, the station collaborated with local governments to organize eco-friendly initiatives, such as planting around 2,000 saplings and releasing approximately 100,000 juvenile fish into local waters. These efforts underline Nam Ngiep 2’s dedication to sustainable development and community engagement.
The government of Phaxay awarded the station an “Ecological Protection Honor Certificate for the Mekong River Basin.” County Chief Khamla Keodavanh stated, “Nam Ngiep 2 not only provides stable and clean power to Laos but also protects the river basin’s ecosystem through activities like tree planting and fish release.”
Celebrating Cultural Exchange
The Culture Class invited students to explore traditional Chinese cuisine. Under the guidance of CWE staff, participants learned to prepare various dishes, including sticky rice dumplings and green rice cakes, culminating in a celebratory hotpot meal to mark the station’s 10th anniversary.
Throughout the event, students actively shared their experiences on social media, generating over 350,000 views online and capturing the interest of local youth. Coverage by local media further amplified the event’s reach.
Over the years, the Nam Ngiep 2 Hydropower Station has provided tangible benefits to local communities, including infrastructure development, educational support, and cultural preservation. Village chief Vilaiphone Khoudsavanh from Poung Village reflected on the station’s impact, noting, “Thanks to the station, our children now have a classroom where they can learn in peace. The station has not only brought light to our village but also hope for the future.”
The “Lancang Mekong Green Course” Open Day effectively showcased the progress of this China-Laos joint project while deepening local youth’s understanding of the green energy sector. It serves as a significant step towards enhanced regional energy cooperation across the Lancang-Mekong region.
For more information about CWE, visit CWE’s official website.
