Cambodia’s Green Energy Revolution: Groundbreaking of $1 Billion Pumped-Storage Power Plant

• Proeksa Meas
• 22 April 2026
• Construction Focus
• 1172 Views

Historic 1,000-megawatt Upper Tatay project in Koh Kong to serve as a massive green power bank for national energy security

Koh Kong, April 10, 2026 — Cambodia reached a monumental milestone in its transition toward a sustainable energy future with the official groundbreaking of the Upper Tatay Pumped Storage Hydropower Project. Presided over by His Excellency Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy, and His Excellency Wang Wenbin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Cambodia, the ceremony in Koh Kong province marked the commencement of the kingdom’s first-ever gigawatt-scale pumped-storage facility.

Representing an investment of approximately 1 billion US dollars, the project is a cornerstone of the Royal Government’s strategy to achieve energy independence and environmental sustainability. Minister Keo Rottanak characterized the facility as a historic endeavor that functions essentially as a large-scale rechargeable battery for the national grid. Unlike traditional hydroelectric dams, this system moves water between two reservoirs at different elevations, storing excess electricity during low-demand periods and releasing it to generate power when demand peaks.

During the ceremony, Minister Rottanak emphasized that this innovative technology is vital for integrating higher levels of renewable energy, such as solar and wind, into the national power mix. He noted that the project will be a decisive factor in helping Cambodia reach its target of over 70 percent clean energy by 2030, up from approximately 63 percent in 2025. Furthermore, the facility is expected to generate more than 600 million US dollars in tax revenue over a 40-year period, providing a significant new stream of national income for social development.

Ambassador Wang Wenbin reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s energy sector, highlighting the project as a signature element of the Belt and Road Initiative and the broader China-Cambodia production capacity cooperation. Since 2010, Chinese-invested projects have been instrumental in raising Cambodia’s national electrification rate from 50 percent to nearly 96 percent. The Upper Tatay project, being developed by the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC), will feature four 250-megawatt units for a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

Scheduled for completion in 2029, the Upper Tatay Pumped Storage Hydropower Project is poised to become one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. By stabilizing electricity prices and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, the plant will provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure long-term energy security and a resilient, green economy for the people of Cambodia.

• Projects Development
• Hydropower
• Water reservoir
• green energy