LONDON (Reuters) – EdF, whose chairman Francois Roussely came under fire from the
French parliament for overseeing high-risk expansion, had announced in July that it would pull out its 35 percent share from the 10-year old scheme by December to consolidate its assets and focus on Europe. “We have official confirmation as the president of the French
Republic has given a letter for the Laos president saying that EdF will return to the project,” said Detsada Soukhaseum, third secretary at the Laos embassy in Paris.

He said the letter that confirms the presence of EdF, the architect of the 1,070 megawatt Nam Theun 2 project, was given to visiting Laotian Industry Minister Onneua Phommachanh on Friday morning.

French government officials were not immediately available for comment.

The French government appeared to have reversed its decision after Roussely said last week that the government found the project feasible after a revision in its clauses.

The contract for the dam to supply Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) with 995 MW of electricity for 25 years, that was due to be signed a day before EdF withdrew in July, has now been rescheduled for November, the official said.

The rest of the electricity will be used domestically. EdF holds the largest stake in the project with Thailand’s Electricity Generating Plc and state firm Electricite du Laos each
with 25 percent, Thai construction contractor Italian-Thai Development 15 percent stake.

Construction of the dam is expected to start next year and to be completed and begin operating commercially in 2009.

EdF officials were not available to comment.