Laos will phase out electricity supply to cryptocurrency miners by early 2026 as it reallocates energy toward AI data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial manufacturing, Deputy Energy Minister Chanthaboun Soukaloun said at the ASEAN energy ministers’ meeting.
The move marks a reversal of Laos’ 2021 policy that attracted global crypto miners with its cheap hydroelectric power. Soukaloun said the government’s stance has changed because crypto contributes little to GDP and job creation, while industrial users deliver higher long-term economic returns.
“Crypto doesn’t create value compared to supplying electricity to industries,” Soukaloun said. Current mining power use has fallen to 150 MW from a 500 MW peak, and authorities plan to cut supply completely by Q1 2026.
The government will prioritize electricity exports to Vietnam and Thailand, and expects to resume power deliveries to Singapore through the Lao-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) corridor once final agreements are reached.
Soukaloun also acknowledged an ongoing arbitration case with China’s Power Construction Corp, which is seeking $555 million in unpaid dues linked to a $2.73 billion hydropower project.
Despite the disputes, Laos remains a key player in the region’s clean energy transition, aiming to expand hydropower exports and attract high-value industries.
