Electrcite Du Cambodge (EDC) on Monday issued a statement updating the public on its efforts to tackle insufficient electricity supplies during the ongoing dry season.
Reductions in electricity prices have resulted in a steady increase in consumers in the Kingdom, while local and international investors have contributed to Cambodia’s improving electricity infrastructure.
However, unusually high temperatures and an irregular supply of water since the beginning of January due to drought have boosted demand beyond EDC expectations.
“The lack of water has contributed to inadequate hydro-electric generation capacity, which in turn cannot ensure an adequate supply of electricity across the country until the end of the dry season,” read the EDC statement.
It added that to address the issue, EDC has urged neighbouring countries to increase their electricity supply to the Kingdom. As a result, Thailand has provided an additional 80MW, Laos offered an additional 10MW, while Vietnam maintained its usual electricity supply despite similar electrical shortages in southern Vietnam.
“We currently face an approximately 13 per cent shortfall in power, which requires EDC to reduce electricity supplies until the rainy season. Electricity supply during the day is cut off in random areas, while electricity supply at night must be kept at normal rates to meet need."
“EDC has done everything it can to urge the industrial sector, rice mills, hospitals, water supply authorities, embassies and other government institutions to use their own generators during the day,” the statement said.
During the 72-day period until the end of May, when the drought is due to end, EDC will supply electricity at the normal rate during the 23 non-working days. It will then resume its normal supply rate when the rain comes.
In the statement, EDC also outlined its goal of developing and improving the electricity sector by 2030.
To combat the issue of electricity shortages moving forward, the government has drawn up plans to harvest electricity from diverse sources including hydroelectric and fossil fuel power stations, as well as solar energy and electricity purchases from neighbouring countries.
EDC is currently looking into other immediate measures to prevent electricity prices from rising and instead have them drop in the near future.
EDC has called on citizens to tolerate the stressful period and try to reduce power consumption during the transitional period. EDC invited the public to follow updates on its official Facebook page or contact its hotline at 1298, which operates 24 hours a day.
