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Cambodia’s power supply up nearly 30 percent as demand increases
Because of the increasing demand for power consumption and a rise in development activies, power supply in the Kingdom has increased sharply, according to a report by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The report states that the power supply generated has increased from 2,635 megawatts (mW) in 2018 to 3,382 mW in 2019, a 28 percent year-on-year increase.
The power was generated from several sources that included; dams, coal-fired plants, diesel-fired plants and solar panels.
As of 2019, the main operating power source for the Kingdom was seven hydropower dams which generated cumulatively 1,328 mW of energy, accounting for 33.5 percent of the nation’s total power supply.
The report stated that the power supply from other sources included a 675 mW from coal-fired power plants, 627 mW from diesel-fired power plants and 123 mW from renewable power.
Cambodia imported 626 mW from neighbouring; Thailand, Vietnam and Laos in 2019, a 41 percent increase over from the previous year.
Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem stated the continuing upward trend of power consumption in Cambodia means the government must continue to find other sources of reliable energy to ensure demand is met to build infrastructure projects, give stability to businesses and provide electricity to the people.
“The development of power sources and increasing the capacity of power generation, transmission, distribution and electrification to businesses and consumers are our main tasks. We have been constantly developing new power sources and increasing the supply to meet the nation’s power demands,” Suy said at the ministry’s annual meeting yesterday.
“At the same time, improving the supply of electric services to consumers and decreasing power tariffs have also been benefiting people nationwide,” Suy said.
As of last year, 364 licences were given to power distributors, covering 3,131 out of 4,168 villages listed in the Kingdom, a 92.68 percent coverage rate.
Household electrification was recorded at 2.68 million out of 3.57 million households across the country, a 74.78 percent coverage rate.
The government’s target to provide electricity to all villages throughout the country by 2020 will most likely not be reached. There are more than 200 villages located in remote areas and islands where it is not deemed possible for current infrastructure development.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50690046/cambodias-power-supply-up-nearly-30-percent-as-demand-increases