Cambodian Gov’t Abandons US$1.5billion Coal Power Plant for Sustainable Energy Future

• 6 December 2023
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In a monumental shift towards environmental responsibility, Cambodia has chosen to forgo the construction of a US$1.5 billion 700MW coal-fired power project in a protected reserve along the southwestern coast. Instead, the nation is set to embrace a cleaner future by establishing an 800MW natural gas-fired plant, revealed HE Keo Rottanak Minister of Mines and Energy in an announcement to Reuters on 29 November 2023. (Read More)

As a pivotal component of this transformative initiative, Cambodia is actively considering the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, aiming to import this eco-friendly fuel and re-gasify it for utilization in the envisaged power plant.

Minister Rottanak anticipates that the LNG terminal, likely to be a groundbreaking land-based facility, would not only be a first for Cambodia but would also position the country as a new import market in Southeast Asia, following in the footsteps of Vietnam and the Philippines, which embarked on their inaugural LNG shipments in 2023.

“The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will announce on 30 November the cancellation of the 700 MW coal power plant project in Koh Kong and the plan to replace it with an 800 MW LNG to be commissioned after 2030,” Rottanak told Reuters.

The cancellation of the Botum Sakor coal plant, a project mired in controversy over environmental concerns, signifies Cambodia’s resolute commitment to cleaner energy alternatives. The decision aligns with the nation’s ambitious goal to increase its share of clean generation capacity to 70% by 2030, up from 52% in 2022. This transition involves the development of new solar and wind farms, along with hydro projects, marking a significant stride towards a sustainable and eco-conscious future.

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