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Capital
power cuts to end by 2012 says EAC
More electricity planned for Phnom Penh but
rural areas may have to wait 20 years for power
By CHEANG SOKHA
The
Electricity Authority of Cambodia released new
long-term projections for ending electricity
shortages, predicting that by 2012 all
residences in Phnom Penh will have enough
electricity for normal consumption.
But
in the rural areas of most of Cambodia, it will
take years longer.
According to Ith Praing, secretary of state at
Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME),
85 percent of the population in the capital
city has power, but nationwide the figure is 17
percent.
The government expects that all villages in
Cambodia will have an electricity connection by
2020 and 70 percent of households will have
electricity by 2030.
In an effort to alleviate national power
shortages, Cambodia has been getting electricity
for its northern provinces from neighboring
Thailand and Vietnam where electricity is
much cheaper than in Cambodia.
In Phnom Penh
private companies and generators supplement the
short supply available from Electricité Du
Cambodge.
"We have a problem with the electricity
shortage," said Theng Marith, an official at the
regulatory
department of the Electricity authority of
Cambodia. He said mom Penh needs another 40
megawatts of electricity to supply growing
population that expects unlimited use of power.
Marith said that
the power consumption has been soaring
l Cambodia
from year to year.
1
2005 consumption
was 160 megawatts. In 2006 it rose to 200
megawatts. In 2007 it was 220 megawatts.
EDC, according to
a company official, has capacity to supply
roughly 200 megawatts for the residents in Phnom
Penh in the rainy season.
Last November high voltage electricity began coming across the border
from Thailand to Banteay Meanchey, Battambang
and Siem Reap
But in the hot
season coming up demand will leap to 240
megawatts.
"So we have to
cut off some blocks at times," he said. "The
power demand is non-stop," he said.
He said EDC alone
produces 35 megawatts.
Praing, at the
Industry Ministry, said that in Phnom Penh
three companies supply additional power to EDC.
EDC gets 45
megawatts each from two private companies,
Cambodia Electricity Private and Khmer Electric
Power each provide 45 megawatts and Malaysia's
Cambodia Utility Co. provides 30 megawatts.
"We need power
sources from neighboring countries," Praing
said.
Two other private
companies are now installing poles and
transmission lines from Vietnam to is, mom Penh
via Takeo province. they expect to complete work
by late 2008 or early 2009.
Under agreements
with Thailand and Vietnam since 2002, provinces
along the borders such as Mondulkiri, Kratie,
Kampong cham, Svay Rieng, Kampot and kep have
been supplied by connections from Vietnam.
The provinces to
the west and Ta northwest such as Banteay Mean-
KI hey, Oddor Meanchey, Pailin, Koh Kong and
Battambang were also connected with low voltage
from Thailand.
Last November
high voltage electricity began coming across the
border from Thailand to Banteay meanchey,
Battambang and Siem Reap.
Praing said the
price of electricity from the neighboring
countries is
cheaper than local
supply, at 1st
650
riel ($0.16)
per kWh, while
the local price is between
)0
riel
($0.17)
to
2,000
riel
($0.50) per
kWh. "We have a long term agreement to buy their
electricity )r 18 to 25 years," Praing said.
On December 29,
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam signed an energy
cooperation agreement aiming to provide
electricity from Tay Ninh province of Vietnam to
Krek and T'bong Khmom districts in Kampong Cham
province.
Another line is
from Champasak province of Laos to Stung Treng. The
$18
million project
will start in
2008
and is expected to
be completed by
2011.
According to Prime
Minister Hun Sen, the government is spending
roughly
$100
million per
year
to subsidize
electricity. |
