Project on Utilizing Quarry Dust as a Partial Replacement for River Sand in Concrete Mixtures

The Luang Prabang Hydropower Project has implemented an initiative to incorporate quarry dust as a partial replacement for river sand in concrete mixtures. This effort aims to reduce the reliance on river sand while maximizing the use of waste materials, specifically quarry dust, instead of discarding it and causing environmental pollution. Through optimized concrete mix design, quarry dust has been successfully used to replace up to 10% of the fine aggregate, exceeding contract specifications, amounting to 56 kilograms per cubic meter of concrete. In 2025, the project has reduced river sand consumption, leading to cost savings of 9.935 million baht, and has prevented 41,397 tons of quarry dust from entering the ecosystem. This initiative commenced in January 2023.

In 2025, the Luang Prabang Hydropower Project produced 739,234 cubic meters of concrete. To replace fine aggregate (sand) that exceeded the contractual limit, the project utilized stone dust at an average rate of 13%, surpassing the contract's specified maximum of 3% by 10%. This resulted in the use of 56 kilograms of stone dust per cubic meter of concrete, reducing reliance on natural sand from the Mekong River by approximately 41,397 tons. This initiative contributes to the conservation of natural resources by minimizing the extraction of river sand.