CO-I-JET Laos • Among the countries in Southeast Asia, the Government of Laos views the country’s energy sector as a key driver of its economic growth. Development of the abundant hydro generation potential of the Mekong River and its tributaries, coupled with significant investment in transmission and distribution, has resulted in a 95% electrification rate for its citizens. It is also part of the national strategy
to become the “Battery of Southeast Asia.
• 81% of electrify consumed in Laos generated by hydro power and 17% by coal power plants.
• At the meantime, renewable energy sources such as solar contributes about 16.8% (2019) of energy mix. This share becomes 41% if include biomass. Through its Renewable Energy Development Strategy, 2011–2025, the country is seeking to promote non-largehydropower renewable resources to reach a 30% share of the country’s total energy demand by 2025 with the contribution from renewable energy to be increased up to 20% by 20230.
• As far as solar development potential is concerned, it is being more favorable in the south of the country, conditions for solar power are less favorable than most other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• The seasonality in hydropower and solar irradiation occurs at different times of the year, this could provide a degree of complementarity that gives the potential for balancing year-round variations in generation and supply Government commits to diversify energy sources in Laos by placing more emphasis on renewable energy sources, particularly electricity generated by solar, wind and biomass systems.
• There is good emerging policy enabling environment related to renewable energy in Laos in Laos but lack of planning, investment and inceptive seems to post challenge on how the country would transition from current heavily invested  hydro-power energy and coal plants to a new source of energy from renewable energy.
There are some reasons why Oxfam in Laos should initiate and implement Just Energy Transition Project in Laos:
1. Thenational context of energy development is sifting from hydro-power energy and coal power plant energy to renewable energy and small hydro energy with the total share of 30% by 2025. The country aims to increase renewable energy share from 16.8% (2019) to20% by 2030.
2. SDG7 of Loas Government suggests to just transition of coal industry with “just transition” with few recommendations: (1) build social compact with stakeholders: (2) initiate early closure plan of coal power plants;(3) establish fund andauthority to facilitate early transition with a coal transition program.
3. Laos PDR will host ASEAN in 2024 and energy transition has been defined as one of priority areas for engagement and influencing. Developing leadership of Oxfam and CSOs to lead andengage with stakeholders early enough prior to ASEAN submit in 2024 is critical taking lessons learned from Cambodia and other countries.
4. CSOs have limited knowledge and experiences on principles, approaches and experiences to engage and influencekeyactors in the country to promote just energy transition.

Issues and sectors of JET be addressed in Laos are:

- Lack ofunderstanding of the relevance and values of CSOs to engage and influence just energy transition in Laos as they are many powerful stakeholders and there is limited space for CSOs engagement.
- Lack of understanding of policy entry points.
- Lack of capacity and technical skills of NGOs to engage and influence planning, programing related to renewable energy.
- Lack of forumfor CSOs and community to voice their concerns.
- Lack of understanding and acceptance of what justice means in renewable energy solutions and in transition in Laos context.

Objective of the I-JET project in Laos:

Objective: Integrate social and environmental concerns for supporting renewable energy solutions and early coal energy retirement in Laos

Outcome 1: CSOs/targeted communities have capacity to engage with policy  makers/decision makers to promote social and environmental responsibilities for renewable energy solutions and coal energy retirement in Laos.
 Outcome 2 Government of Laos would have integrated social and environmental concerns to advance just energy transition to increase energy mix from renewable and mini-hydro energy sources.
Outcome 3: Communities would have increased awareness ,understanding and an interest to seek for better solutions to impacts from renewable energy and early retirement of coal powerplants/mining.

For this preparatory phase, the outputs are that OxfaminLaos will achieve the following results:

- Has a better understanding on the context and relevance of JET in Laos context
- Be able to identify JET as a priority for ASEAN engagement in 2023-2024.
- Be able to identify and select partners for full phase implementation (2023-2027)
- Defines project logic at country level JET project in Laos that would be aligned with I-JET regional level program logic
- Understands key stakeholders and their powers for engagement and influencing.
- Developrelationships with key stakeholders.
- Defines activity plan for 2023-2024 funding.
- Explores synergy and linkage with other projects and initiative in Laos.


Project activities during preparatory phase (1 March-30 June,2023) are:
- Provide introduction ofconcept and approach of I-JET in Laos context and define a concept note
- Participate in ASEAN engagement learning and define priority and scopes of works for ASEAN -JET engagement in Laos in 2024
- Undertake an initial scoping exercise to determine scope of results framework and project logic
- Conduct site visits to assess the feasibility of the project logic
- Identify and develop relationship with key relevant stakeholders
-Undertake partnership assessment of 1-2 partners to implement I-JET LaosProject
-Initiate a new project proposal