$800K dam deal inked to provide clean water

Industry Minister Cham Prasidh exchanges document after signing with Wang Tiefeng, General Manager of Sinohydro Kamchay Hydroelectric Project.  Supplied

The project will provide a supply of water to be held for treatment at a plant in Kampot and flow through the hydropower dam in Kamchay.

The announcement was made at a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft and Sinohydro Kamchay Hydroelectric Project Co.

Cham Prasidh, Minister of Industry and Handicraft said that the comprehensive strategic partnership is another example of the historical ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China.

“The project will hold 1,770 million cubic meters per year from the dam in Preak Kampong Bai and will flow through the hydropower dam in Kamchay. The water will then be processed at the water treatment plant in Kampot providing 22 million cubic meters per year of treated water,” Cham said.

The new dam will also contribute to the development of a clean water supply in Cambodia, especially in the Kampot province and will also help to protect the environment.

Wang Tiefeng, general manager of Sinohydro Kamchay Hydroelectric Project Co said that the company will build and complete the dam as soon as possible, with a view to building a second following further discussions with the government.

Oum Sotha, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, told Khmer Times that the construction of the overflow dam will divert water headed to the Gulf of Thailand. Instead, it will be processed by the Kampot Water Supply Authority and delivered to the Kampot population and surrounding districts.

“Kampot has a demand of 20,000 cubic meters per day, but the government is expanding its supply to 60,000 cubic meters. This is part of our mission over the next two decades to provide a clean water supply to the province,” Oum said.

In addition, the government aims to give access to clean water to everyone in the country by 2025. Source from Khmertimes.