Cambodia seeks Japanese financing for high-voltage transmission network

The network will carry electricity from Laos into Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Sen has sought assistance from Japan to finance a high-voltage transmission network to carry electricity from Laos to Phnom Penh, a report by Khmer Times revealed.

The request comes after Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) signed an agreement to purchase 200MW from Laos. The energy will be produced at Laos’ Dan Sahong hydropower dam, located near the border with Cambodia, which is scheduled to begin production in 2021.

In March, the Royal Group of Cambodia partnered with China Southern Power Grid and China Huaneng Group to carry out a feasibility study on the high-voltage transmission network.

Cambodia was hit by a power shortage in early 2019, and as a result, authorities have reportedly drafted a strategy to increase its power supply by increasing both local production and imports.

A report from the Ministry of Mines and Energy highlighted that Cambodia’s electricity supply is expected to rise by more than 16% in 2019 to hit 2,870MW.

“2,428 MW will be generated from local sources, whilst the rest will be imported from Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos,” the report noted.