Powerless Phnom Penh Struggles With Hot Season
March 25th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, Social Concerns, Solar Power, Water
As air-conditioning units slow to a halt, computers die and the lights go out, the frustration of local business owners and organizations in Phnom Penh is boiling over once again as the annual hot season blackouts have arrived. …
The 190-megawatt, Chinese-built Kamchay hydropower dam in Kampot province came online in 2011 with the promise of bringing more power to Phnom Penh and helping reduce the country’s energy-supply deficit.
Yet according to an EdC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak with the media, the Kamchay dam is currently operating at only 10 percent of its capacity because “there is no water” during the dry season. Blackouts were also the result of EdC upgrading power transformers, which required that some sub-stations had to be temporarily cut off, the official said, adding that the upgrade work should be completed by mid-April. …
“Dams need water,” Mr. Mean said. “But the fact is, Cambodia is much better suited to solar energy than hydropower,” he said.
Michael Shaw, an independent renewable energy adviser who worked with NGO Engineers Without Borders in Cambodia, said that even with the nine new hydropower dams in the pipeline, Phnom Penh and other cities are growing at a pace that will exceed that supply. …
Simon Henderson and Sun Mesa
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/powerless-phnom-penh-struggles-with-hot-season-15655/
UN,Cambodia jointly hold workshop on Sustainable Energy for All
December 13th, 2012, Xinhuanet News, Climate Change, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Green Energy, Hydroelectricity, International Relations, Natural Gas, Oil, Solar Power, Technical Assistance, Water
The United Nations Development Program and Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy on Thursday jointly held a workshop on Sustainable Energy for All ( SE4All) in order to discuss the future of sustainable energy in Cambodia.
The workshop, opened by Suy Sem, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, and UN Resident Coordinator Douglas Broderick, was attended by 80 people from various ministries, development partners, non-governmental organizations and civil society. …
Editor: Hou Qiang
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-12/13/c_132038593.htm
New solar powered lights for Cambodia
December 12th, 2012, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Electricity, Energy, Foreign Investment, News Source, Solar Power
Cambodia’s energy sector acquired a new product yesterday with the introduction of solar powered lights from energy company Total, advancing it toward a longer term solution to meeting the population’s energy needs.
An industry player described the products as a nice bridge toward seeing Cambodia supplied with adequate and reasonably priced power.
Awango by Total is a range of lighting products charged by small solar panels. …
Erika Mudie
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/Business/new-solar-powered-product-launched.html
At ASEAN energy summit, green energy and investment were in focus
September 18th, 2012, Economics Today, Climate Change, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Green Energy, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, Lakes/Rivers, Natural Gas, News Source, Oil, Social Concerns, Solar Power, Water
In his talk at the ASEAN energy ministers meeting held in Phnom Penh last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen emphasized the need for the ten-member bloc to work together to bolster its regional energy connectivity to meet a rapidly growing demand for energy. He also stressed the importance of promoting clean energy to tackle the problem of climate change. …
While green energy is believed to be more secure, reliable, and environmentally friendly, according to experts at the four-day conference, they pointed out that the hight cost of renewable energy products is hindering the sector’s expansion. While the goals of regional energy connectivity and greener technology are admirable, observers said ASEAN’s institutional framework, infrastructure, technical standards and regulatory systems are still underdeveloped and hurting implementation of those targets. …
To meet its growing domestic demand, the Cambodian government continues to develop electricity generation plants using indigenous sources such as hydro-power, natural gas, coal and some renewables, and imports electricity from Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. It is working on improving its electricity transmission systems to cover more of the country.
Sann Sethvitou and Khlem Chanreatrey, P. 20
http://etmcambodia.com
Energy issues focus for ASEAN
September 12th, 2012, The Phnom Penh Post, Electricity, Energy, Green Energy, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, News Source, Solar Power, Technical Assistance
Prime Minister Hun Sen opened the 30th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting yesterday in Phnom Penh, where ASEAN officials will focus on ASEAN green energy and develop a plan for ASEAN’s power grid, officials said.
Victor Jona, deputy director general of energy of the General Department of Energy at the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Energy, told reporters on Monday that the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) will discuss ASEAN’s power grid connectivity and green energy. …
Based on the Electricity Supply Development Master Plan from the years 2010-2020, Cambodia will have an additional 3173.2 megawatts installed. …
Rann Reuy, P. 7
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012091258643/Business/energy-issues-focus-for-asean.html
ASEAN senior officials meet ahead of 30th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting
September 10th, 2012, Xinhua News, Climate Change, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Green Energy, Hydroelectricity, International Relations, Natural Gas, Oil, Solar Power, Water
ASEAN senior officials on energy gathered here on Monday to discuss and prepare documents for the 30th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting and related meetings to be held on Sept. 12. The two-day preparatory meeting, under the theme “ASEAN Green Connectivity”, was chaired by Tun Lean, director general of energy department at Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy ( MIME).
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, Victor Jona, deputy director general of the MIME’s energy department, said the discussions were focused on ASEAN Power Grid Connectivity, ASEAN Green Energy Connectivity and efficiency of energy consumption in the bloc. “We discussed directions and targets of key energy matters crucial to the realization of both the ASEAN Connectivity and eventually the aspiration of an ASEAN Community by 2015,” he said. The meeting was also a chance to further strengthen energy cooperation within ASEAN and with dialogue partners, and international organizations, he added…
Xinhua
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-09/10/c_131841006.htm
Cambodia seeing a solar surge as prices drop
August 29th, 2012, The Phnom Penh Post, Electricity, Energy, Green Energy, News Source, Solar Power
Cambodia is lighting up with solar power as international politics gluts the world market with inexpensive equipment options, according to industry insiders.
The lowering or complete end of subsidies for US, European and Australian firms, along with China’s backing of the renewable energy sector, has seen a “dramatic drop” in the price of solar energy and one that Cambodia is moving swiftly to take advantage of, said PowerTopia Cambodia CEO Andrew Wallace. …
Chinese competition is seen as the drive behind cheaper prices, according to Chan Thy, a saleswoman at Khmer Solar, who said energy is now “US$1.30 to $1.40 per watt for Chinese-made solar panels and $2.50 per watt for Japanese-made units”. …
Gregory Pellechi, P. 7
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012082958337/Business/cambodia-seeing-a-solar-surge-as-prices-drop.html
Energy mix
August 27th, 2012, Economics Today, Construction, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Green Energy, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, Natural Gas, News Source, Oil, Social Concerns, Solar Power
At the turnoff of Sihanoukville outside Phnom Penhmetal shop owner Kuch Sareun watches the sparks fly as his emplyees join pieces of steel. This year, he installed a diesel-run generator at his business since the frequent electricity outages were hurting his bottom line. …
Electricity is a sore point for many in Cambodia-due to the power grid’s instability and its costs. Right now, less than 30 percent of the country is electrified-one of the lowest rates in Southeast Asia-and most power comes from burning expensive diesel or from imports. …
In response to this, the government is actively promoting investment in big hydropower and coal-fired power plants. By 2020, the plan is to have 18 hydroelectric and coal plants in operation. …
While the prospect of a stable, cheaper electricity supply pleases many, especially in the industrial sector, NGOs worry that local populations and the environment near these large-scale projects will end up paying a high price. They favor a more in a decentralized energy system featuring renewable sources of power like solar and biomass gasifiers. …
Khlem Chanreatrey