May 19, 2008
Cambodia will open nine hydropower dams in 2019
PHNOM PENH:
Cambodia will construct controversial Chinese-funded dams as part of a plan
to feed its electricity-starved economy, according to government documents
obtained on Monday.
The Southeast Asian country will open nine dams of various sizes between 2010
and 2019 to generate 1,942 megawatts of power, according to a government report
to parliament obtained. At least four of the dams will be backed by China.
The US-based International Rivers Network last year said that two
Chinese-funded hydroelectric dams already under construction threatened to flood
huge swathes of Cambodia's protected forests.
The group said the Kamchay and Stung Atay dams, unchecked by public scrutiny,
will wreak havoc on local communities and slow development.
The new government report said the Kamchay hydropower plant will open in
2010, while Stung Atay hydroelectric dam will open in 2012.
"By 2020, all villages will have electric power. (And) by 2030, at least 70
percent of the families countrywide will have electricity use," the report said.
The government also plans to build nine coal-powered plants between 2011 and
2020, the report said.
Only some 20 percent of Cambodian households currently have access to
electricity.
Spiralling utility prices, driven by this lack of supply, are a major
obstacle to attracting foreign investment, and the government has struggled to
find a way to bring down the cost of power.
Australian Senate President
Visited Cambodia
Australian Senate President Paul Calvert arrived in Cambodia ,
for an official visit in Cambodia from Feb.14-21 to strengthen the cooperation
and bilateral ties between the two countries.
During the visit, Senator Paul Calvert was granted an audience
with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, and met Senate President Samdech Chea
Sim, National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Samdech Hun
Sen and visited important cultural sites.
During meeting with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, His
Majesty stressed that the visit would further strengthen and consolidate the
bonds of friendship and cooperation in all fields between the two countries
Australia-Cambodia.
His Majesty the King also thanked Australia for playing its
active role in resolving Cambodian conflict and granting aids for development in
all domains to Cambodia, particularly, agriculture, healthcare, and human
resource and legal field in Cambodia.
Addressed during an official banquet at Chamcar Morn Palace in
Phnom Penh in the honour of the Australian President of Senate, Cambodian Senate
President Samdech Chea Sim hailed Australia for constantly giving support to the
national development in Cambodia since the period of peace keeping and national
reconciliation in the late 1980s till now, he added that, Australia has also
assisted Cambodia in improving good governance and rule of law, human resource
development, demining, productivity and revenue enhancement of the Cambodian
people, as well as military cooperation and anti-terrorism.
While meeting with Cambodian National Assembly President
Samdech Heng Samrin, the discussion focused on strengthening and consolidation
of the relationship and cooperation on legislative bodies between the two
countries.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Samdech
Hun Sen emphasized that, at this moment, Cambodia and Australia’s cooperation is
better, especially in fighting terrorism, drug and human trafficking, and
intelligence information exchanges.
In reply to Cambodian leaders, Australian Senate President
Paul Calvert raised the exchange of trade and the close cooperation between the
two countries on the prevention of terrorism and trans-national crime.
He said that the Australian defence cooperation program has
also helped the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in a number of areas, including
Cambodia’s participation in international peace keeping, thus contributing to
the achievement of a prosperous and secure future for the region.
Australian Senate President Paul Calvert also promised to
carry out more cooperation and to assist Cambodia in its national development.