F
IRST Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh has initiated a revolutionary
scheme which might result in solar-powered street lighting installed throughout
Cambodia.
The lighting system is currently on trial outside the Council
of Ministers after being installed by Ponleujit, a subsidiary of the Daewoo
Centre which sells cars and electronics. Daewoo general manager Ng Ching Poo
explained that his boss David Tan had been asked by the Prince to investigate
solar lighting.
"Our first priority is to help the Prince realize his
dreams," said Ng Ching Poo. "One of the means of helping people [in Cambodia] is
giving them light and the Prince wanted something that could be installed
quickly." Eleven street lights have been erected outside the Council of
Ministers in the trial.
Ponleujit have decided to test panels made by the
American company Solarex which are manufactured under license in Australia.
The lights were installed a month ago at a cost of $1,350 and will be
evaluated after another one or two months. Each unit is completely independent
and works by absorbing sunlight into a panel which charges up a battery. The
battery has a timer and the lights come on automatically after dark for a set
period.
Ng Ching Poo hopes to eventually manufacture the units locally
which will greatly reduce costs and provide jobs. Employment opportunities will
also come from installing, maintaining and monitoring the lights.
In the
long-term, households and businesses will be targeted for solar powered internal
lighting but for now Ponleujit are concentrating on street lighting only. Ng
Ching Poo believes solar panels will help the country prosper as lighting will
provide increased security and will also be a boost for tourism.
He
believes solar lighting will help Cambodia prosper along with the country's
long-term investors.
