Five large-scale solar and hydropower plant projects have been given the green light, providing Cambodia with an additional 520 MW of energy.

On Friday, the Office of the Council of Ministers approved the new power projects during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Two hydropower plants were given the nod. They are Stung Russey Chrum Kandal Hydropower and Stung Veay Thmor Kambot Hydropower. In addition, solar projects were approved in Pursat, Kampong Chhnang province, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces.

The Stung Russey Chrum Kandal Hydropower Project will have a capacity of 70 MW and the Stung Veal Thmor Kambot Hydropower Project will have a capacity of 100 MW. The four solar power projects will have a combined capacity of 250 MW.

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Phay Siphan, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Royal Government Spokesperson's Unit, said the projects will help to meet growing demand for electricity in Cambodia and reduce the country's reliance on imported energy.

He added, “The projects will also create jobs and boost the economy.”

A 2022 report by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) revealed that Cambodia will have a total of 4,246.77 MW of electricity, with 73 percent coming from locally-developed sources, amounting to 3,116.42 MW, and 26 percent, equivalent to 1,130.75 MW, will be imported from neighboring countries.

Cambodia's electricity demand is expected to grow at an average rate of 7.5 percent per year in the next five years, according to MME.

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seng.mengheng@kiripost.com