Mixed reaction to coal-fired plant

26 February 2014
The Phnom Penh Post
Coal / Construction policy and regulation / Economic policy and administration / Economy and commerce / Electricity infrastructure / Energy / Energy policy and administration / Environment and natural resources policy and administration / Environmental impact assessments / Generation and distribution facilities / Industries / Infrastructure / Non-renewable energy production
Cambodia Energy Ltd / Chinese aid / Hun Sen / Leader Universal Ltd / LU / Malaysian aid / Ministry of Mines and Energy

Cambodia’s first coal-fired power plant, which is expected to fill shortages in demand by producing an additional 100 megawatts of electricity every year, commenced full-time operations yesterday. … Representatives from Malaysian company Leader Universal Ltd (LU), which built the plant, joined Prime Minister Hun Sen and officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the official launch yesterday in Stung Hav district, Preah Sihanouk province. Operating under local subsidiary Cambodia Energy Ltd, LU completed the $195 million project in November after three years of construction. LU received a 33-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) land concession from the Cambodian government in 2010 for the project – three years for construction and 30 years for operation before handing the plant back over to the state. … But while Hun Sen said that more domestically sourced power was on the way, he added that prices will ultimately stay the same, as the company works to swing a profit while repaying banks that helped to finance the project with loans. …

 Hor Kimsay and Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mixed-reaction-coal-fired-plant