The Third Hydro Dam Operates

AKP Phnom Penh, June 15, 2012 —

The third hydro power dam in Cambodia, Kirirom III with 18 megawatts in Kampong Speu southern province, some 50 kilometers from Phnom Penh capital city, has recently operated, H.E. Suy Sem Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy said yesterday.

“It has started operating recently, but it has not been inaugurated yet,” he said on the sideline of the signing ceremony on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on Trade Capacity Building of Mekong Project Phase III on June 14.

Kirirom III is the third hydro power dam being operating after the 12-megawatt Kirirom I and the 193-megawatt Kamchay. The electricity generated by these hydro power dam is transferred to Phnom Penh, he said.

Electricity demand is one of the challenges in Cambodia, with an average increase of 25 percent every year, he said.

Cambodia is expected to generate more electricity power from other hydro power dam and coal power plant development projects in the coming years, he pointed out.

By LIM Nary and KHAN Sophirom