Phnom Penh, June 03, 2019 –Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has reiterated the Royal Government’s commitment to increase the electricity supply in the country.
Addressing to a graduation ceremony of some 3,161 new graduates of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) this morning, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the Royal Government has been taking active action to settle the energy shortage problem.
The Premier also recalled that during his trip to Japan last week, he has discussed with his Japanese counterpart on energy issue, and sought the Japanese side’s assistance to build transmission lines to bring energy from Laos to Cambodia.
“Next year, Phnom Penh capital will not face the electricity shortage problem anymore. Phnom Penh needs some 400 megawatts. We will increase the energy generation capacity by coal-fired power plants. While in Japan, I discussed with H.E. Abe Shinzo (Japanese Prime Minister), asking for Japans’ assistance to build high-voltage transmission lines from Lao border to Phnom Penh,” he said.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen has also negotiated the 1,700-megawatt electricity purchase from hydropower and coal-fired power plants in Laos.
Recently, Cambodia, especially Phnom Penh, faced 400 megawatts of electricity shortage as more than half of the electricity sources come from hydropower dams which did not run smoothly due to drought.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Cambodia has currently three main sources of electricity supply, including hydro-power plants of 1,329 megawatts, coal power stations of 538 megawatts, and solar energy of 64.77 megawatts.
Ministry’s record shows that Cambodia consumed a total of 2,650 megawatts of electricity in 2018 – an increase of about 15 percent compared to 2017.
To further increase energy generation capacity in the country, in April the Cabinet Meeting has endorsed four more energy projects – a hydropower and three solar power projects.
The Stung Pursat I hydropower project of 80 megawatts is invested by SPHP (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. in Pramoy commune, Veal Veng district, Pursat province with an investment capital of US$231.10 million under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) form for 39 years, while two 60-megawatt solar power stations will be built in Krakor district of Pursat province and in Tek Phos district of Kampong Chhnang province with a total investment capital of more than US$58 million under the BOO (Build-Own-Operate) form for 20 years by Schnei Tec Co., Ltd. The cabinet ministers also approved to increase the energy generation capacity by 20 megawatts of the existing 60-megawatt solar power project invested by Schnei Tec Co. Ltd. in Thmat Porng, Oudong district, Kampong Speu province.
By Khan Sophirom
