Xekaman 3 is a 250 MW hydro power station in Xekong, Laos. It is operated by Xekaman 3 Power Company Limited. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 250k homes (estimated). It ranks #11 of 26 Laos power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2012, it is around 14 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 76.5% of Laos's electricity; the national grid averages 232 gCO₂/kWh (76.7% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1026805.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 250 MW, Xekaman 3 is well above the median hydro plant in Laos (44 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Laos hydro capacity
- 8.0% of 3,109 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 8 of 11 dated hydro plants in Laos are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Laos
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Xekaman 3 Power Company Limited.
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 15.4°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #4 largest hydro power plant of 19 in Laos by capacity.
Laos has 19 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 3,109 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Song Bung 4 · Hydro · 156 MW · Quang Nam
- Song Bung 4A · Hydro · 49 MW · Quang Nam
- A Vuong · Hydro · 210 MW · Quang Nam
- Dak Mi 4 · Hydro · 190 MW · Quang Nam
- Dak Mi 4C · Hydro · 18 MW · Quang Nam
- ZaHung · Hydro · 30 MW · Quang Nam
Location
Coordinates 15.3755, 107.4064 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Xekaman 3?
Xekaman 3 is a 250 MW hydro power plant in Xekong, Laos, commissioned in 2012.
Who operates Xekaman 3?
Xekaman 3 is operated by Xekaman 3 Power Company Limited.