New coal-fired power station in O Meanchey nears finish line

HAN Seng Coal Mine Co Ltd’s 265MW coal-fired power station in Oddar Meanchey province’s easternmost Trapaing Prasat district is nearly 60 per cent complete, deputy provincial governor Dy Rado told ThePost.

He said the company is actively working to have the project – expected to cost a total of $294.3 million – up and running as quickly as possible to meet the province’s energy needs ahead of an expected dry season shortage of electricity supply.

The 130MW first phase is scheduled to go online by the end of next year, with the project set to be fully online by the end of 2022, he added.

“We are studying the environmental impact of a project proposal to connect [the coal plant] to East Siem Reap Substation via a 230kV transmission line,” Rado said, adding that the power station would supply his province and its southern neighbour Siem Reap.

With a population of over 260,000, Oddar Meanchey has a total energy demand of 10MW, he said.

“Power from the plant will greatly benefit the people living in the province and ensure that they have the energy to improve their livelihoods and household economies,” Rado said.

The government on October 23 issued final registration certificates for the project and its transmission line.

Victor Jona, the director-general of the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s General Department of Energy, has said Cambodia needs an average of more than 2,000MW of electricity a year, but demand could drop to 1,800MW this year.