Cambodian plan to kick-start wind power wins backing from regional players
There is a regional flavour to clean energy investments in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia wants to catch up with neighbours such as Vietnam
Cambodia's plans to develop its own wind resources as a source of clean power have taken a step forward after Malaysia's Leader Energy signed up to an "implementation agreement" for a 150MW onshore wind farm.
Cambodia has been slower than some other Southeast Asian countries to build up new renewable sources of energy with very little solar capacity in place, and no wind farms yet.
Although hydroelectric facilities account for more than half of national power generation, capacity oscillates greatly between wet and dry seasons and coal is still a major source of power.
One US study, by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) suggested that Cambodia has the technical potential to develop up to 6.5GW of wind power capacity, mainly in coastal and upland areas.
Cambodia's Mines & Energy Ministry has set out ambitions to build up an initial 900MW of wind power capacity in Mondulkiri province, in the lower Mekong basin.
The country aims to connect its first wind projects to the grid by 2026.
Leader Energy is active in solar, hydro, transmission and green mobility and said its Cambodia project would be its first venture into wind energy. The agreement offers Leader Energy wind production rights over a 25-year period.
The Malaysian company said its project "aims to showcase the viability of large-scale wind energy in Cambodia, diversifying the nation's energy mix and meet its growing power demands."
The project has the backing of Cambodia's state energy utility EDC, as well as the national government.
"Together we are not merely constructing infrastructure but shaping a cleaner, greener future for Cambodia, said Dato' Sean H'ng Chun Hsiang, CEO of Leader Energy.
Earlier this year, Singapore renewables developer The Blue Circle, signed a memorandum of understanding with Cambodian consortium Royal Group.
The pair outlined plans to finance, develop, build, own and operate a 100MW wind farm in Mondulkiri province, about 280km from the capital Phnom Penh.
These projects are contenders to become Cambodia's first commercial wind farm.
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