Mine and Energy Minister Suy Sem today requested the Vietnamese government supply more electricity to help address a current shortage in the Kingdom.
A ministry press release said that Mr Sem today discussed the matter at the ministry with Le Bien Cuong, commercial counsellor at the Vietnamese embassy.
“His Excellency Suy Sem asked the Vietnamese to support Cambodia’s request for an additional 50 megawatts of electricity,” read the statement.
Vietnam is currently supplying 170 megawatts to help the Kingdom tide over an acute shortage because of low water levels at hydropower dams due to a dry spell.
The ministry said that Mr Sem also urged Vietnam to release water from 14 upstream hydropower dams in the country to the Cambodian Lower Sesan II hydropower dam for it to have sufficient water to produce more electricity.
In response, Mr Le said he will forward Cambodia’s request to the Vietnamese government.
Last month, Prime Minister Hun Sen called for the public and government institutions to reduce usage, noting that the Kingdom is currently facing a shortage of electricity due to a lack of water to power electric turbines at dams.
