A Thai hydropower company has plans to build what would be Laos' sixth large-scale Mekong river dam, the latest cog in Laos' ambitious plan to become the "battery of Southeast Asia."

The Thailand-based Charoen Energy and Water Asia Co. Ltd. (CEWA) presented to Lao authorities the results of studies related to the Phougnoi dam project at a meeting in Pakse city on Feb. 11.