Cambodia: Council of Ministers approves two new energy projects

• May 28, 2018

The Council of Ministers approved on Friday two new energy projects.

An expansion of a coal-fired power plant in Preah Sihanouk’s Stung Hav district has been green-lighted by the Council, as well as a solar power plant in Kampong Speu, which will have a production capacity of 60 megawatts.

The projects will now be submitted to the National Assembly, before being sent to the Senate for final approval.

One of the projects seeks to expand output at the coal-fired power plant located in Preah Sihanouk’s Stung Hav district, from its current 405 MWs capacity to 700. The plant is operated by CIIDG Erdos Hongjun Electric Power Co – a joint venture between Cambodia International Investment Development Group and China-based Erdos Hongjun Electric Power Co.

The second project proposes the creation of a solar power plant over 80 hectares of land in Kampong Speu’s Uddong district. It is a joint venture of Singapore-based Sunseap International and an unnamed local partner, who together would make a $62 million investment.

Sunseap already operates a 10-megawatt solar farm in Svay Rieng’s Bavet City valued at $12.5 million.

Victor Jona, director-general of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said the new projects will help the Kingdom meet its energy goals.

“The new projects are key because they will help us achieve energy security to boost our industry and create jobs,” Mr Jona said

According to the Electricity Authority of Cambodia, total energy output last year was 2,283 MWs, up from 2,115 MWs in 2016.

With seven hydropower plants scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2018, the government forecasts that total energy output will reach 1,329MWs this year, of which 538MWs will come from coal power plants, 251MWs from fossil fuel power stations, and 72MWs from renewable energy sources.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50493908/council-of-ministers-approves-two-new-energy-projects/