The $1 billion 700MW coal-fired power station in Preah Sihanouk province broke ground on December 18, 2019. Photo supplied
Construction of a 700MW coal-fired power station representing $1 billion of capital investment in Preah Sihanouk province is 35 per cent complete since breaking ground on December 18, 2019.
Comprising two 350MW units, the project is a joint venture between local firm Cambodia International Investment and Development Group (CIIDG) and China Huadian Hong Kong Co Ltd (CHDHK).
Built on 54.9ha in Preah Sihanouk’s Stung Hav district, the facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 and be online in early 2023.
Victor Jona, director-general of the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s General Department of Energy, told The Post that the percentage of completion for the project was revealed in the latest joint report issued by the companies on December 30.
In their report, the companies considered factors such as impact handling, paper work and orders for equipment, he said.
“In my opinion, we will not have a problem with electricity supply in Cambodia over the next three years. Our investors have enough capital and they are very committed to developing the projects. I’ve seen companies with government investment concessions on power plants constantly moving forward,” Jona said.
The project was approved by the Council of Ministers in May 2018 under a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) concession for 35 years.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall spokesman Kheang Phearum said development of the project has been smooth, expressing hope that it would be completed in the timeframe planned.
“Once the plant is online and connected to the national grid, it’ll dole out all the power needed in the provinces and” in Phnom Penh, he said.
The average power supply in Preah Sihanouk was between 83 and 85MW during the months of Covid-19, he added.
CIIDG already operates a $383 million coal-fired power plant in Preah Sihanouk province. The 270MW capacity plant was also split into two phases, with the second 135MW phase slated to be completed this year.
According to Jona, the Kingdom generates most of its energy from hydropower dams and coal-fired plants, accounting for around 36-40 per cent and 32 per cent of power production, respectively.
