Chinese firms propose 150-MW hydropower dam

Chinese firms have proposed a new hydroelectric power project on Koh Kong’s Tatai river.

Chint Group and Sinomach-HE recently asked the Ministry of Mines and Energy for permission to begin a feasibility study on a project to build a 150-megawatt hydropower dam on the Tatai river, Victor Jona, director of the energy department, announced yesterday.

“It is a good project. We have asked the company to proceed with the feasibility study,” he said, noting that the study will begin after the rainy season.

“The new project is also on the Tatai river. If the company concludes that the project has potential and the ministry approves it, an investment license will be issued,” Mr Jona said.

“The new hydropower dam will produce green energy and feed it to the national grid. It will contribute to energy security in the country,” Mr Jona said.

In a meeting with Chint Group’s CEO Nan Cunhui and Sinomach-HE’s chairman Lu Wenjun on Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomed the power project.

“We will be doubling our use of this resource. It will benefit the country and help the government deal with some of the problems that we have been facing,” Prime Minister Hun Sen said, referring to the blackouts Phnom Penh suffered earlier this year.

The proposed dam will be just 20 kilometers upstream the Tatai River Hydropower Plant, a 540-million investment developed by the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation. It came online in 2015 under a 42-year build-operate-transfer contract.(This news came from Khmertimes.com)