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| The Lower Sesan II hydropower dam will be put in service at the end of 2017. Photo supplied. |
Suy Sem, Minister of Mines and Energy, told reporters on Thursday, during an exhibition at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center (CKCC), that twelve more Cambodian provinces will be connected to the national power grid, and many power stations and sub-stations will be built in those provinces in order to distribute electricity to households in need of electricity.
He added that his government is making efforts to connect all Cambodian villages to the national power grid in 2020. He also said that so far 10,589 villages are connected to the power line. It means 74% of all villages in the country are already connected to the power line.
According to Minister Suy Sem, until today, six hydropower dams have been built to generate electricity for daily use in the country. Those dams are Kirirom I hydropower dam (12MW) in Kampong Speu, Kamchay (193MW) in Kampot, Kirirom III (18MW) in the southwestern part of the country, Stung Atai (120MW) in Pursat, Lower Russei Chrum (338MW) in Koh Kong, Stung Tatai (246MW) in Koh Kong.
He added that the Lower Sesan II hydropower dam is being constructed. The dam is expected to be completed at the end of 2017.
According to Cambodia Express News (CEN), a trusted local online newspaper, the Lower Sesan II hydropower dam will be capable of generating 400 MW. Electricity from the dam will be sold for $6.95/KWH. After 40 years, the ownership will be transferred to the government.
Three companies are investing in the construction of the dam - Hydrolancang International Energy from China has 51% share, Royal Group from Cambodia has 39% share, and EVN has 10% share. The total investment is $781.52 million.
On Friday, AKP, a state-owned news agency, reported that in a meeting at the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Hun Sen approved two investment projects in a view to expand the national power grid and power supply in the kingdom. The first project is the investment to build 230 KW power grid from Stung Tatai hydropower dam to the capital Phnom Penh, while the second one is to build a 135MW coal power plant in Preah Sihanouk province.
However, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), the current electricity supply did not respond to the basic demands, because the quality of electricity was not reliable, and the 24-hour electricity supply was not assured.
The CDC also said that to expand the power source, the government relies on the hydropower plants, coal power plants, and imported electricity. The construction of eight hydropower plants and three coal power plants are on the way and all will be finished in 2020.
Besides the ADB and the World Bank, India also agreed to provide loan of $70 million to help Cambodia construct necessary power lines.
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