Two [DAMNED] China-invested hydropower dams to supply electricity later this year: Cambodian PM

Two [DAMNED] China-invested hydropower dams to supply electricity later this year: Cambodian PM

Thursday, July 7th, 2011
People's Daily Online

Two out of five hydroelectric dams being constructed in Cambodia by Chinese investors will begin to supply electricity from the end of this year onward, said Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday.

The two dams are the 193 megawatt Kamchay hydroelectric dam in Kampot province, some 150 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh and the Kirirom III hydropower dam with the capacity of 18 megawatts, the premier said during a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a China-funded Takhmao Bridge across Tonle Bassac river in Kandal province.

“The two dams will be put into operations by the end of this year,” he said, adding that they are invested by Chinese investors with the support from the government of China.

“When they come online, there will be no concern of electricity shortage in Phnom Penh,” he said.

Cambodia’s economy has rapidly developed since 2005 and the shortage of electricity has been posing a concern for investors.

With the operations of the two dams by the end of this year, it is expected that the cost of power in this country will be lower.

According to the report from the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Energy, five hydroelectric dams with a total capacity of 915 megawatts have been constructing in Cambodia by Chinese investors with the total investments of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars.

The other three dams being constructed are Tatay river hydropower dam with the capacity of 246 megawatts, Atay hydropower dam of 120 megawatts and Russei Chrum Krom with the capacity of 338 megawatts.