Thailand's Export-Import Bank will sell and guarantee bonds issued by the Lao government worth 30 billion Bahts to raise funds for the Nam Ngum 2 hydropower dam project, in which Thailand's South East Asia Energy Limited(SEAN) has a 75% stake.
Laos needs the money to fund its 25% share in the project, which is expected to cost US$790 million and will have an installed capacity of 615MW, generating about 2,300GWh of energy per year.
The construction of the dam is expected to begin later this year and to be completed in 2009, when energy produced by the dam will be sold back to Thailand.
Listen to our Laos Today report for more details.