Nation’s largest hydropower dam to open
Prime Minister Hun Sen will officially open the Chinese-made Kamchay dam in Kampot province today, the largest hydropower dam to date to operate in Cambodia and capable of supplying an extra 193.2 megawatts of energy. Environmental and human rights groups yesterday criticized the dam’s builder and the government for not releasing the dam’s environmental or social impact assessments prior to the project being approved. The Kamchay dam, which was built by the Chinese company Sinohydro, has been praised by Mr Hun Sen for its role in reducing electricity prices and supplying the growing demand for power in Phnom Penh. Its first phase was completed in December 2009, and the dam will provide electricity to Phnom Penh, Kampot and Preah Sihanouk provinces…
