Chinese energy investments sustaining Cambodia's economy

Cambodia has praised China for the massive energy investments that have become key to its sustainable social and economic development.

Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem hailed Chinese companies during a bilateral meeting with Wu Yin, Deputy Administrator of China's National Energy Administration. Sem revealed that most of the investors in Cambodia's energy sector are from China.

"Chinese investors have invested billions of U.S. dollars in building hydropower dams and power transmission lines in Cambodia," he said. "The investment in this sector is very vital for Cambodia's social and economic development and poverty alleviation." 

Sem noted that Chinese companies have invested a total of US$1.6 billion to build six hydroelectric dams with the total capacity of almost 1,000 megawatts. He said construction of three hydropower dams has been completed and the dams are operational.

He requested China to consider providing a loan of US$50 million a year to Cambodia for power transmission line development.

Wu said the increasing number of Chinese investors in Cambodia was due to the close relations and cooperation between the governments of the two countries. He pledged to encourage more Chinese investors to do business in Cambodia. He also promised to take the US$50 million loan request into consideration.