On 26 February, Laos launched the Lao-China 500-kilovolt Interconnection Project with a ceremony in Vientiane Capital. This project is part of a broader effort to enhance regional energy integration.

Phoxay Sayasone, Laos’ Minister of Energy and Mines, explained that the system will connect Laos’ power grid with neighboring countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China.

Expected to be completed by 2026, the interconnection will allow power transmission to begin that year. Once operational, it will facilitate the exchange of 1,500 megawatts of electricity between Laos and China, along with the transmission of around 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, boosting the energy sector in both countries.

The initiative is a key element of Laos’ five-year strategic energy development plan (2021-2025), which seeks to strengthen the country’s economic potential. The connection with China will help Laos systematically develop its energy resources and establish a reliable energy exchange.

The system will include a new 500-kilovolt substation in Namor district, Oudomxay Province, linking to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, China, via a 183.5 km cross-border transmission line. Additionally, two 230-kilovolt lines will connect to the main line in northern Laos.

Divided into two phases, the first phase will be developed by Electricité du Laos Transmission (EDL-T), while the second phase will be handled by CSG.

Once fully operational, Laos is expected to become a clean energy hub within the Lancang-Mekong region, linking and distributing electricity across neighboring countries.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/28/laos-china-500kv-link-to-drive-clean-energy-growth-and-asean-connectivity/

The beloved German children’s classic Emil and the Detectives, written by renowned author Erich Kästner, has now been translated into Lao. 

The launch event for this translated version took place at the German Embassy in Vientiane on 26 February.

Originally published in 1929, Emil and the Detectives marked a shift in German literary style and has since become a fundamental piece of children’s literature, praised for its emphasis on empowerment, self-confidence, and courage. 

The story features a group of resourceful children who take matters into their own hands to solve a mystery, proving that even the youngest can act with determination and shape their own destinies.

But translating this classic into Lao was no simple task, as noted by the translator, Ousavanh Thiengthepvongsa. The book is rich with slang and everyday language from 1920s Berlin, which presented a unique translation challenge.

Ousavanh studied in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and spent many years living in Germany, Ousavanh brought together a deep understanding of both German literature and Lao culture to this project. 

He teamed up with Sonekham Seankhamta, an editor from the German Department at the National University of Laos (NUOL), and together they worked to ensure the language stayed true to the original while also making it relatable and accessible for young Lao readers.

The process of adapting the book’s historical, cultural, and linguistic elements to the Lao context required an in-depth understanding of both the original text and the target language. 

“It was a challenge to translate the book word by word, striving to preserve its original meaning while ensuring that Lao readers could fully understand the true essence of the story,” said Ousavanh. “We wanted to ensure that the Lao readers could relate to the themes of courage and adventure, just as children in Germany have for decades.”

Erich Kästner, the author of the book, was born in Dresden in 1899 and is considered one of the most important German writers of the 20th century. Despite his popularity, Kästner’s books were publicly burnt by the Nazis in 1933, and the author was banned from writing. However, his legacy endures to this day with Emil and the Detectives.

The Lao version of Emil and the Detectives was published by the German charity association Books for Laos e.V., with support from the German Embassy in Laos and the Georg Kraus Foundation. This project is the result of a collaborative effort between the German Embassy, the NUOL, Books for Laos, and the grassroots literacy initiative Reading Elephant Laos, which has been supporting educational projects in Bokeo Province since 2017.

The first edition of the Lao translation comprises 600 copies, which will be distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and reading projects in Laos. 

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/27/german-childrens-classic-emil-and-the-detectives-translated-into-lao/

Lao Brewery Company (LBC) is advancing its sustainability efforts with new green energy initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to the environment.

As part of Carlsberg Group’s “Together Towards ZERO and Beyond” program, LBC is stepping up efforts to cut its carbon footprint and support Laos’ sustainability goals.

LBC is making a major shift by partnering with VN Green Energy Company to open Laos’ first biomass energy factory. Starting February 2025, this factory will supply LBC’s Vientiane brewery with steam energy from biomass waste, replacing fossil fuels and covering over 80 percent of the plant’s energy needs.

This transition will significantly reduce carbon emissions at the Vientiane Brewery, helping LBC reach net zero five years earlier than planned. It also contributes to Carlsberg’s goal of net-zero emissions across all breweries by 2030. LBC is also exploring renewable energy options for its Pepsi plant in Vientiane and brewery in Pakse.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we are proud to take this major step towards reducing our carbon footprint in Laos,” said Henrik Juel Andersen, Managing Director of LBC.

“By implementing biomass energy and continuing to explore further renewable energy solutions, we hope to lead by example—not only in Laos but across the region.”

The announcement coincides with a three-day visit to Laos by Carlsberg Group CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen, emphasizing the company’s global sustainability commitment.

“Carlsberg’s ‘Together Towards ZERO and Beyond’ program is about taking concrete action to reduce emissions and drive sustainability in all our markets.

LBC’s transition to biomass energy and ongoing exploration of broader renewable energy sources is a great example of how our breweries can play a pivotal role in building a more sustainable future,” said Aarup-Andersen.

Beyond renewable energy, LBC leads in sustainability through initiatives like the Sustainable Rice Farming Project. This program promotes organic farming, supports local farmers with technology, and trains them in regenerative agriculture for a fully sustainable rice farming system.

LBC has also improved water conservation, packaging sustainability, and waste reduction. Since 2018, its Zero Packaging Waste program has achieved a 97 percent collection rate for empty 640ml Beerlao bottles, reusing each bottle up to 14 times before recycling.

LBC’s sustainability efforts extend beyond its business. As Laos’ largest taxpayer, contributing over LAK 5.1 trillion (USD 239 million) in taxes in 2024, LBC plays a key role in national development. It also invests in social initiatives, including education, healthcare, and disaster relief.

During his visit, Aarup-Andersen and Andersen will meet with Lao government officials to discuss LBC’s role in the country’s green transition and strengthening public-private partnerships for sustainable growth.

“We are not just brewing beer; we are brewing a better future for Laos and beyond,” added Andersen. “Our ambition is to set the standard for sustainable brewing in the region, proving that economic growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/22/lao-brewery-company-steps-up-sustainability-with-biomass-energy/

On 17 February, police officers from the Kaenthao District in Xayaboury Province arrested a group of drug smugglers attempting to transport drugs across the Nam Hue border at the Kon Veng point in Chomkeo village. This location faces Ban Pak Khan Port in Thali District, Loei Province, Thailand. 

The authorities quickly identified the suspects and detained three individuals: one Lao citizen and two Thai nationals. They seized heroin (in the form of white powder) hidden in a box of materials (disguised as a box of white skin cream) inside two empty bags. Each bag contained 44 boxes, for a total of 88 boxes, weighing 44 kilograms.

The arrested individuals were Xay Xaema, 44, and Voutthixay Xaema, 25, both residents of Sirirath village, Phop Phra district, Tak Province, Thailand, as well as Nonthawee Sisenglat, 21, a resident of Chomkeo village, Kaenthao district, Xayaboury Province.

In the wake of the incident, both the Lao and Thai governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional security and combating transnational crime.

On 19 February, Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met with his Lao counterpart, Khamliang Outhakaysone, to discuss enhanced cooperation in combating call-center scam gangs and drug trafficking. Both officials agreed that addressing issues like drug trafficking along the border and technological crime requires strengthened security cooperation that cannot be tackled by either country alone.

To address technological crime, both sides agreed to collaborate with relevant government agencies and work together to resolve the issue. The 30th Thai-Laos General Border Committee (GBC) meeting was hosted by Laos.

Following the GBC meeting, Phumtham is scheduled to meet with Liu Zhongyi, China’s Assistant Minister of Public Security. Liu is expected to brief Phumtham on the outcomes of his recent visit to Mae Sot district in Tak and his discussions in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, regarding efforts to crack down on call-center scam gangs.

During their meeting, Liu Zhongyi is expected to present four key proposals to enhance regional security: establishing a tri-partite mechanism between Thailand, Myanmar, and China to address call-center scams, cutting electricity and oil supplies to disrupt operations, strengthening border controls to prevent relocations, and facilitating the repatriation of affected Chinese nationals.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/21/laos-thailand-strengthen-security-cooperation-following-major-drug-bust/

Over the past three months, Lao and Russian military bomb disposal experts removed 285 UXO items from 157,887 square meters of land that have been surveyed and cleared of  Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Viengxay district, Houaphanh Province.

Out of a planned area of 187,180 square meters, 29,395 square meters still remain to be cleared of UXO. These explosives were removed from an administration office construction site, a school, and farmland in Nakai village, Viengxay district.

These figures were reported at the 3rd monthly meeting on Lao-Russia cooperation in clearing and deactivating UXO held on 15 February in Houaphanh Province.

In addition, 18,367 scrap metals were removed, along with 39 BLU-28 and 1 BLU-24 munitions and 11 weapons.

The goal of UXO clearance is to give the land back to local people for agricultural and construction purposes and to prevent casualties and injuries from unexploded devices, especially among children.

Since 2018, the Laos-Russian army UXO clearance operation has surveyed 170 hectares of land and removed more than 2,300 pieces of ordnance.

Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita, with an estimated 80 million unexploded devices still littered across the country, posing a threat to lives and livelihoods, according to the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Laos.These munitions have killed or injured more than 50,000 people since 1964 and continue to claim about 100 victims each year.

The government has set a target to remove all unexploded ordnance by 2030 and has received support from numerous countries and organizations to help fulfill this ambition.

Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/20/russia-laos-clear-over-285-unexploded-ordnance-in-past-three-months/