Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ‘Solar energy will fill shortages,’ says Jona

‘Solar energy will fill shortages,’ says Jona

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Last year, Cambodia consumed 2,650MW of electricity, a 15 per cent increase compared to 2017. Of the amount, 442MW was imported from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Heng Chivoan

‘Solar energy will fill shortages,’ says Jona

Thai firm B Grimm Power Pcl has invested in a 30MW solar project in Cambodia, Ministry of Mines and Energy spokesman Victor Jona said on Wednesday.

Jona, who is the director-general of the ministry’s General Department of Energy, told The Post that he welcomed the investment in solar energy, saying the project will not impact the environment and will protect natural resources.

“I believe solar energy will help to fill the [power] shortage during the coming dry season.”

He said the ground-mounted solar power system will cover about 40ha of land in Banteay Meanchey province’s Sisophon town.

“The solar project was approved during the Council of Ministers meeting in June this year,” he said, adding that it is scheduled for completion by next October and the company will discuss the share transfer in detail with Electricite du Cambodge (EdC).

B Grimm Power’s subsidiary B Grimm Solar Power entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire all shares in Ray Power Supply Co Ltd, with a total share value of $300,000, PV Tech reported on Tuesday.

The deal authorises B Grimm Power to develop the photovoltaic project in line with a 20-year power purchase agreement with EdC, it reported.

The Kingdom has approved a number of solar energy projects with a total capacity of 410MW, Jona said.

Of the amount, 90MW is currently connected to the national grid – 10MW from a project in Svay Rieng province and 80MW from a project in Kampong Speu province. Other projects will be completed next year and in 2021, he said.

Last year, Cambodia consumed 2,650MW of electricity, a 15 per cent increase compared to 2017. Of the amount, 442MW was imported from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The rest was produced in Cambodia from coal-fired plants, hydropower dams and solar farms.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • PM warns of int’l election interference

    With the national election scheduled to take place in less than two months, Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned foreign nations and their diplomats not to interfere into Cambodia’s domestic affairs. He also hinted that their statements on court verdicts handed down to any