The government has asked a Chinese firm interested in building two hydropower plants in Koh Kong province to re-conduct the feasibility study for the projects.
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China Huadian Lower Stung Russei Chrum Hydroelectric Project (Cambodia) wants to build 100-megawatt and 70-MW dams in the southern province’s Mondul Sima district.
During a meeting Monday with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Electricity Authority of Cambodia, the Chinese firm presented the findings of the feasibility study. However, it was told the results were inconclusive and was asked to conduct a new study.
Yim Piseth, EAC chairman, who attended the meeting, said the study submitted by the company was incomplete and that further studies were required.
“The company presented the results of its feasibility study during the meeting. However, after some discussion, there were a few sticking points so we asked the company to re-conducted the study,” Mr Piseth said on Tuesday.
To aid the company with the new study, the ministry has decided to establish a working group composed of officers from the ministry, EAC and Electricite Du Cambodge.
The hydropower dams are called ‘Stung Veal Thmor Kambot’ and ‘Stung Russei Chrum Kandal’, the ministry pointed out.
China Huadian Lower Stung Russei Chrum Hydroelectric Project (Cambodia) is a subsidiary of China Huadian Corp, who currently operates a 338-MW hydropower dam in the same district where it wants to build the new dams.
The 338-MW dam began operations in 2015 after nearly five years of construction. It is operated under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract with the Cambodian government. Having cost $578 million to build, the dam generates about 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours per year.
The government has recently approved a raft of energy projects to increase power output and ensure a constant supply.
