On April 7, local time, the commissioning ceremony for the first phase of the CGN Laos Northern Clean Energy Base — a 1,000 MW photovoltaic project (hereinafter referred to as the "Laos Phase I Project") — was held in Vientiane, Laos, marking the successful commissioning of the largest single photovoltaic project in Southeast Asia. Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone attended the ceremony and announced the project's commissioning.

Fang Hong, Chinese Ambassador to Laos; Malaythong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Laos; Vongsavanh Sayavong, Governor of Oudomxay Province; and Orlathay Santikhongkha, President of the Lao Krittaphong Group Co., Ltd., attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Yang Changli, Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Group, attended the ceremony and addressed the audience. Also in attendance were Buakhong Nammavong, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office and Head of its General Office of Laos; Phosay Sayasone, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Laos; Bounlepha Santikhongkha, President of the Lao Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Lao Krittaphong Group Co., Ltd.; Li Yilun, Vice President of China General Nuclear Power Group; Zhang Chaoqun, Chairman of CGN Energy International; representatives from various Lao government ministries, relevant provinces and departments; officials from the Chinese Embassy in Laos; representatives of partner organizations including CSG Lancang-Mekong International Co., Ltd.; representatives of Chinese enterprises in Laos, industry chain partners, and relevant construction entities; as well as media representatives from both countries — a total of over 200 people participated in the event.

▲ Ceremony site for the commissioning of the first phase of the CGN Laos Northern Clean Energy Base — a 1,000 MW photovoltaic project

The project serves as a source of support for China-Laos power interconnection. It is CGN's first overseas 1,000 MW-class greenfield clean energy project independently planned and developed by the company, and also the first large-scale mountainous photovoltaic project in Laos. Located in Mengsai County and Namor County, Oudomxay Province, Laos, the project is expected to generate an average of 1.65 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.3 million tonnes. During the construction process, CGN facilitated the establishment of the Laos Clean Energy Power Standards Research Institute, the first institution in Laos focused on power standards research, supporting the quality improvement and upgrading of China-Laos power cooperation through "soft connectivity" of rules and standards. In terms of ecological protection, the project has safeguarded the region's natural ecological environment through measures such as precise surveying, optimized array layout, construction avoidance, and ecological restoration. Its good practices in developing a "garden-style" power plant have been recognized by the Lao government with the "Green Energy Quality Certification."

▲ The first phase of the CGN Laos Northern Clean Energy Base — a 1,000 MW photovoltaic project

The project has brought together more than 70 companies from the industrial chains of both China and Laos to participate in its construction, delivering tangible economic and social benefits to the local area. According to statistics, during peak construction, the project provided nearly 3,000 local jobs, and has repaired roads and reinforced a total of 5 bridges, continuously improving local infrastructure. Malaythong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Laos, stated at the site that the project has not only facilitated the implementation and effectiveness of China-Laos power interconnection but also created numerous job opportunities for Laos, driving the development of related industries.

▲ The first phase of the CGN Laos Northern Clean Energy Base — a 1,000 MW photovoltaic project

In terms of industry chain development, the project has brought together more than 40 enterprises from China's new energy manufacturing, construction, and development industrial chains, as well as a cumulative total of over 30 local enterprises in Laos involved in construction, mechanical supply, and raw material supply, all working together to build a benchmark project for power cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong region. Fang Hong, Chinese Ambassador to Laos, stated that China is willing to work with Laos to further deepen practical cooperation in the energy sector, using clean energy cooperation as a key entry point, with the aim of building a cleaner, safer, and more efficient regional energy system, enhancing the region's development support capacity, and contributing to Laos' sustainable development.

▲ CGN hands over the operating room and medical equipment it funded for the construction and procurement of at Mengxing County Hospital in Luang Namtha Province

At the same time, CGN has been actively implementing its "Firefly Initiative" social responsibility brand in Laos. Through the "Egret Class" program, it has trained nearly a hundred local engineers, and has also carried out public welfare projects such as Chinese language classes and the "Firefly Workshop," sharing development benefits with local communities and serving as a vivid example of the growing people-to-people bond between China and Laos. At the commissioning ceremony, CGN handed over an operating room and medical equipment — which it funded for construction and procurement — to Mengxing County Hospital in Luang Namtha Province. Simultaneously, it launched construction and renovation projects for the Kyaogalo Primary School and the Majhu Village Public Office in Oudomxay Province, as well as the Nongsawang Primary School in Phongsaly Province, demonstrating through concrete actions the deep and lasting friendship embodied in the China-Laos community with a shared future.

Yang Changli, Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Group, stated that as 2026 marks the "China-Laos Year of Friendship," CGN will accelerate the implementation of subsequent clean energy projects in five northern provinces of Laos, actively explore markets in central and southern Laos, and strive to advance China-Laos power interconnection to deeper levels and broader fields, contributing greater strength through clean energy cooperation to the building of an even closer China-Laos community with a shared future.