Construction Begins on US$400m Tatai Hydropower Dam Generating 150MW

• 30 November 2023
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The groundbreaking ceremony for the Tatai Hydropower Dam project, also known as the Ta Tay Leu Dam, worth nearly US$400 million took place in Thmar Bang district, Koh Kong province. Presided over by Samdech Moha Bovathibodi Hun Manet, PM of Cambodia on 30 November 2023, the event marked the initiation of a transformative venture set to harness the combined water resources of the Kep River and the Tatai River.

Envisioned as a dual-dam hydropower project, the initiative involves the construction of dams across the Kep River and the Tatai River, creating interconnected reservoirs linked by an underground drainage tunnel. The synchronised water sources are slated to generate a formidable 150 megawatts of electricity, with the power transmitted 13 kilometres downstream through an underground pipeline originating from the Steung Kep dam.

The project is executed as a Build-Operation-Transfer (BOT) investment endeavour, boasting an impressive investment sum nearing US$400 million. China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) stands as the principal investor, holding a 39-year concession for the project, comprising a four-year construction phase and a 35-year operational span. The anticipated annual electricity output, averaging 527 million kilowatt hours, is slated for sale to Electricity Du Cambodge (EDC).

During the ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Manet also announced the commencement of the power transmission line installation, spanning over 33 kilometres and connecting three communes in Thmar Bang district, Koh Kong province.