Investment in new 150-megawatt dam requested upstream on Tatai River

• 26 June 2020
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Chinese firm China Heavy Machinery Corporation which currently operates the TataiRiver Hydropower Plant has requested to build a 150-megawatt dam upstream on the Tatai River, with the company currently proceeding with an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA). The ESIA is being conducted by SAWAC Consultants (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.

Victor Jona, Director-General of Energy and spokesman at Ministry of Mines and Energy, told Construction & Property Magazine on 26 June that the Chinese firm has finished the pre-feasibility study and is now conducting an ESIA  at the provincial level.

“The firm has already submitted the result of the pre-feasibility study to the ministry, but the ministry has not yet received notification that the company is in the stage of conducting an ESIA at the sub-national level and the work of the ESIA process is related to the Ministry of Environment,” Jona said.

“After the process is finished, the firm will be required to submit the report to the national level including the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries and institutions to review and assess,” Jona explained.

If approved as planned, the investment project is set to complete construction and connect to the grid in 2026, he added.

Situated about 20km above the current operational 246-megawatt Tatai River Hydropower Plant, the proposed project is located in Russei Chrum and Tatai Leu communes in Thmar Bang district, Koh Kong province.

According to the Koh Kong Provincial Administration, relevant provincial department and authorities have started providing inputs for the project’s ESIA.

Sok Sothy, Deputy Governor of Koh Kong said in a meeting held on 26 June that the 150-megawatt dam project would be a new battery for Koh Kong province.

According to Jona, a megawatt power investment costs roughly US$2 million and the cost might lower than that depending on the contextual condition of the power investment project.

• Energy and Environment