405 



other great dams of the world.) The total cost of construction was 

 estimated at $1.16 billion. The reservoir behind the dam would contain 

 more than 100 billion cubic meters of water, to irrigate some 43,000 

 hectares of land. The accompanying power plant would be capable of 

 generating 4.8 million kw of power, with transmission lines distribut- 

 ing it to various market areas from Vientiane to Bangkok. Annual 

 revenues estimated in the report were $143 million (mainly from the 

 sale of power, which accounted for more than $120 million). Revenues 

 over and above operating costs, the report said, would be sufficient to 

 amortize costs of the project in 50 years at 6 percent interest, from 

 power revenues at 4.53 mills per kwh. A preliminary market survey 

 found that Thailand alone would be able to use all power generated 

 by the project within 10 years. 



It is not evident that this report satisfied fully the requirement set 

 by USAID for the Stage I Report. The design sought was described 

 as follows : 



The first stage is expected to be the smallest viable component that constitutes 

 a financeable construction start. It ought to be a package that can stand on its 

 own financially, yet be capable of later expansion — in stages — to ultimate project 

 size. . . . Basic requirements are that Stage I be economically feasible, capable of 

 sustained operation and maintenance, and that there be reasonable prospects 

 that it is financeable. Stage I should be small enough to be manageable in an 

 underdeveloped area. 



TABLE 2.— COMPARISONS-LARGE DAMS AND HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS i 



Average annual flow at dam site (millions 

 of acre-feet) 79. 1 



Maximum annual flow (millions of acre- 

 feet).... 103.0 



Minimum annual flow (millions of acre- 

 feet) 53.0 



Peak flow (cubic feet/second (est.) 725,000 



(1894) 



Dam— Type. _ Gravity- 



concrete 



Volume (millions of cubic yards) _. 10.6 



Structural height (feet). 550 



Crest lengtn (feet) 4,173 



Gross reservoir capacity (millions of acre- 

 feet) 9.6 



Active reservoir capacity (millions of 



acre-feet). 5.0 



Area irrigated (potential) (million acres). 1. 



Powerplant: 



Maximum head (feet) 345 



Installed capacity (millions of kilo- 

 watts). 2.0 



Maximum annual generation (bil- 

 lions of kw-hr). 14.0 



Costs— (indexed to 1967 prices) (millions 

 of U.S. dollars): 



Dam 477 



Powerplant 338 



Cost per kilowatt of capacity (plant). 169 



Arch- 

 concrete 



Rockfill Sand/rockfill 



Gravity- 

 concrete 



1 Source: U.S. Agency for International Development and Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of Interior. "To 

 Tame a River." (Wasnington, U.S. Gsvern/nant Printing Office, 19S8), p. 24. 



