Cambodian government approves renewable energy projects

PHNOM PENH, April 8 (Xinhua): The Cambodian government has now approved the construction of five power plants with a total capacity of 520 megawatts, said government chief spokesman Phay Siphan.

The approval was made during a Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Siphan said the projects included the 70-MW Stung Russey Chrum Kandal hydropower plant and the 100-MW Stung Veal Thmor Kambot hydropower plant in Koh Kong province. Both hydropower plants are combined into a single project.

Four solar power projects included the 150-MW station in Pursat province, the 60-MW station in Kampong Chhnang province, the 60-MW plant in Svay Rieng province and the 80-MW plant in Prey Veng province, he added.

"These projects are essential to ensuring the sustainable development of the energy sector in Cambodia," he wrote on his Facebook page. "These projects will produce clean energy, reduce fuel consumption and ensure the protection of the environment, natural resources and climate change."

He said the government will receive a total tax revenue of around US$322.8 million during the business operation of the five projects.

Hun Sen said last month that renewable energy currently made up over 62 per cent of the South-East Asian country's installed electricity capacity.

"Cambodia can be one of the countries that do not pollute the environment," he said. "Hydropower is still a good choice for the development of clean and green energy."

According to the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), energy supply in Cambodia rose to 4,495 MW in 2022, an increase of 12.6 per cent from 3,990 MW a year earlier.

As of last year, 98.27 per cent of the total 14,168 villages in the kingdom have access to electricity, the EAC said. - Xinhua