BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) - Thailand is to buy more electricity from Laos, expanding to 6,000 megawatt under a new deal signed on Friday.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed the ‘Power Purchase Agreement’ (PPA) in a ceremony witnessed by Thai Minister of Energy Siri Jirapongphan and Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath.

The agreement will replace existing ones singed in 2001 and 2006 that expire this month.

Siri said the new deal reflected deepening cooperation on energy trade between the two countries. Thailand would purchase a total of 6,000 megawatts of electricity from Laos, including Nam Ngum 1 Dam, and could be extended to 9,000 megawatts, he said.

Thailand and Laos have had cooperation on energy for 50 years, said Siri, not only with direct power trade but also power line to Malaysia and Singapore.

Source: TNA