Cambodian officials yesterday touted the potential for green energy to meet its goal of bringing electricity to 100 percent of households by 2020.

The Kingdom was looking to develop solar energy, small-scale hydropower and biomass-fuelled power to meet the target, said Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy Secretary of State Sat Samy yesterday.

Although less than 2 percent of the Kingdom’s households now use solar power, the technology will be central to a goal of hooking up 70 percent of households with green energy by 2030.

“We’re looking for private partners to invest in Cambodia’s solar energy, to develop the country,” he said.

Laotian company Sunlabob won a tender to install 12,000 solar panel systems in eight Cambodian provinces over the next year, a previous release said.

“We’re trying to use all advantages from our energy natural resources in order to supply electricity to all villages in the Kingdom,” said Sat Samy.

Solar power had plenty of potential in Cambodia, perhaps even more than in developed countries, he said.

Some privately-owned firms, such as Standard Construction & Engineering Co and Apollo New Energy Corporation of Japan, say they are eager to expand in rural areas.

“We want to help people in rural areas,” said Standard’s President Yen Srorn at yesterday’s seminar.