Project to connect 150,000 to grid

[geovalin]

May Kunmakara

Thirty-one thousand new households, with 150,000 people, across three western provinces will soon have access to reliable and affordable electricity, after a $23.9 million investment project, launched Thursday, will connect them to the national grid.

The project is a joint venture co-financed by Germany’s development bank Kfw, contributing $22.2 million, and the Cambodian government via Electricity du Cambodge paying for the rest.

“With this project they will now access to stable, clean and affordable electricity,” said Ith Praing, secretary of state at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The project was completed in two stages. The first involved the construction of a power substation in Kampot and a high-voltage power line between the new substation and the Takeo power station.

The second stage saw the setting up of a 587-kilometre distribution network to communes in Takeo, Kampot and Kampong Speu provinces.

Keo Ratanak, managing director of Electricity du Cambodge, underscored the economical cost of electricity supplied to residents in the region.

“People in the program area can save now up to 70 per cent on their electricity bills. Before they were connected to the grid, households had to pay as much as 3,700 riel/kilowatt hour for expensive, off-grid electricity,” he said. “After we connect them, they will have to pay only 1,200 riel this year and only 800 riel from next year on.”

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/project-connect-150000-grid