Chinese companies signed several agreements in Phnom Penh
yesterday with Cambodian government officials to build a hydropower
plant and an electricity transmission network for the
kingdom.
The plant in Battambang Province will cost US$190 million and is
expected to generate 465 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per
year, said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An at an official announcement
of the project.
The power transmission network will be constructed at the cost of
US$113 million to connect Phnom Penh, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and
Battambang. The Cambodian government will adopt the BOT pattern
(build, operate, and transfer) for both projects, he said.
These new energy developments are expected to benefit the kingdom
in the fields of energy production, flood prevention, employment
expansion, and tax enhancement, he added.
China Yunnan Corporation for International Techno-Economic
Cooperation and Yunnan Southeast-Asia Economy and Technology
Investment Industrial Co Ltd will undertake the construction and
development of both projects.
Representatives from the two companies, the Cambodian Ministry of
Mines and Energy, and the Electricity Authority of Cambodia signed
the agreements in the presence of Sok An, Chinese Ambassador Zhang
Jinfeng and other senior Cambodian government officials.
Currently, Cambodia does not have the infrastructure to generate
enough electricity to meet its growing demand, which has been
rising 15 percent to 20 percent per year, according to the Ministry
of Mines and Energy.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2007)
