Reuters
Higher electricity demand in Laos due to cryptocurrency mining and erratic rainfall have led to power shortages, an advisor to its state-run utility said, revealing challenges to the nation's prospects as a hydropower exporter to Southeast Asia. Laos is dubbed the battery of southeast Asia for its hydropower export potential, and its supply of the cheapest and most stable source of clean power is crucial to decarbonise the region that is struggling to scale up solar and wind. A policy push to establish data centres in 2021 led to a boom in cryptocurrency mining, which now makes up over a third of Laotian power demand, while lower rainfall has curbed hydropower output, resulting in power outages, said Somboun Sangxayarath, an advisor at state-run Electricite Du Laos (EDL).