THE federal assembly of Russia has asked Cambodia to grant a Russian firm permission to build a US$2 billion dam in the Kingdom, the head of the National Assembly’s finance, banking and audit committee said after returning from Moscow on Tuesday.

“Early last week the Russian assembly requested we allow the Russian company to build a hydroelectric dam capable of producing 960 megawatts in Stung Treng province,” Cheam Yeap said.

The Russians did not identify the firm they were proposing build the dam. However, Much Chhun Hourn, director of the Hydroelectricity Department, said Wednesday that the ministry in 2007 licensed Russian firm JSC Bureyagesstroy to conduct a feasibility study on a dam in Stung Treng province.

The firm had not yet submitted the study to the ministry. “We won’t be able to evaluate the project and its potential until the report is submitted,” Much Chhun Hourn said.

Cheam Yeap said his Russian counterparts told him Friday that the company had submitted the report and was awaiting approval from the Cambodian National Assembly.