China completely finances nearly all of Cambodia's hydropower projects

China completely finances nearly all of Cambodia's hydropower projects

According to Suy Sem, minister of Cambodia's Ministry of Mines and Energy
(MME), with the exception of the US$781 million 400-MW Lower Sesan 2 project
on the Se San River in northeastern Cambodia, Chinese companies have
provided 100% of the financing for all hydropower projects in Cambodia.

According to Xinhua, Sem made the comments Oct. 10 at the World Energy
Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.

The estimated cost for the plants is about $2.4 billion dollars and is also
part of Sino-Cambodian cooperation in the energy sector under the One Belt,
One Road (OBOR) initiative, he said.

Sem said six hydropower projects have been built in Cambodia and
construction of the seventh, the Lower Sesan 2, is 70% complete.

The Lower Sesan 2, expected to be commissioned in 2017, is a joint venture
between Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese companies. Chinese firm Lancang
Hydropower International Energy holds 51% ownership, Cambodia's Royal Group
owns 39% and Vietnam's EVN International owns 10%.

The operational plants include the following:

12-MW Kirirom 1;
18-MW Kirirom 3;
120-MW Stung Atai;
194.1-MW Kamchay;
246-MW Stung Tatai; and
338-MW Russey Chrum Krom.

According to Sem, Cambodia's hydropower plants have been developed under
build-operate-transfer contracts and at the conclusion of
outlined-concessions, which Sem did not specify, each plant's ownership will
transfer to the Cambodian government.

Sem said electricity demand in Cambodia has been increasing each year and
the 928 MW annually generated from the six operational hydroelectric plants
currently represents about 47% of available electricity in Cambodia.

Published reports indicate Cambodia's theoretical hydropower potential is
greater than 10,000 MW.

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Ref:
http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2016/10/china-completely-finances-nearly-
all-of-cambodia-s-hydropower-projects.html?cmpid=EnlHydroOctober182016&eid=2
87675795&bid=1560048

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com