Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ‘Kingdom lacks up to 400MW in available electricity’

‘Kingdom lacks up to 400MW in available electricity’

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife preside over the 5th Water Festival in Kampong Chhnang province on Saturday. HUN SEN’S FACEBOOK PAGE

‘Kingdom lacks up to 400MW in available electricity’

Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on the general public, hoteliers and businesspeople with generators to use them as back-up as the Electricity Authority of Cambodia cannot generate enough electricity to meet needs due to low water levels in power station reservoirs.

On Saturday evening at the 5th River Festival held in the Kampong Chhnang province under the theme River: Connecting Peace, People and Tourism, the prime minister said that while Cambodia has a lot of rivers and lakes, droughts in past years have brought down the levels of river tributaries, causing water shortages throughout the Kingdom.

“As of today, we lack up to 400MW in available electricity. I would like to call on those who have generators to use them in order to supply homes, hotels or places of operation,” the prime minister said.

‘Generators as back-up’

“The solution is to use these generators as back-up. Although it may be a bit more expensive, it is better than a total lack of electricity.”

Cambodia is currently waiting for a response from Turkey following a request to supply the Kingdom with back-up generators for the remainder of the dry season.

The prime minister said Cambodia largely uses hydroelectricity for power, but due to recent droughts, the Kingdom’s hydroelectric plants are generating less.

He asked people for their understanding if they experienced blackouts and called on them to use electricity sparingly.

“400MW is a great deal to be lacking at present. And it may go up even higher as waters are less and less able to supply the water turbines.”

Electricite Du Cambodge (EDC) director-general Keo Rattanak could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

An EDC technical official, who asked not to be named, said the current hot weather has significantly impacted reservoirs for the Kingdom’s hydroelectric dams.

“There are blackouts in areas around the country because water for the hydroelectric dams is limited,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one