(KPL) Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath told a press conference in Vientiane on Thursday that the collapse of Saddle Dam D of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower project on Jul 23 was caused by substandard construction.

The dam collapsed at 20.00 hours on Monday, Jul 23 releasing 0.5 billion cubic metres of water sweeping away several houses in the southern part of Sanamxay. As of yesterday, the death toll from the accident rose to 27 and 131 remain missing.

Being constructed by Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Company (PNPC), the 410 MW Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydroelectric power project is located in the southern region of the Lao PDR and is estimated to have an annual energy generation of approximately 1,860 GWh, according to www.power-technology.com.

PNPC is a joint-venture formed in March 2012 by SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH), and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). SK E&C holds 24% stake in PNPC, LHSE 26%, and RATCH and KOWEPO equally own the remaining share in the project.

KPL