By Nov Vathana
Phnom Penh: The government is pushing for the construction of a new hydropower plant in Pursat province with a capacity of 80 megawatts in 2019, after completion of the study to meet the needs of electricity users, industrial, and handicraft sector and benefits to the national economy.
Victor Jona, spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said on 11 February 2019 the government is negotiating the cost of selling electricity with companies from China and Korea for between 7 cents and 8 cents per kilowatt hour.
If both sides achieved the negotiation, it can lead to the development of hydropower plants soon in 2019, and plans to use the construction period of 3 to 4 years, he said.
The further development of the Pursat hydropower plant is great importance to respond to the needs of the people in the industry, crafts and other services, and ensure domestic energy security, which will reduce importing foreign sources of electricity, he added.