Cambodia will increase its power import capacity to over 50% within the next two years

Keo Rottanak, the energy minister of Cambodia, said that it plans to import more than 600 megawatts (MW), or clean power, from Laos and Thailand. This will increase its contracted import capacity over 50%.

In 2026, the Southeast Asian nation will import solar and hydro power from Laos. Rottanak stated that the country is nearing approval for a deal to nearly double its 300 MW agreement with Vietnam, and it could import 100 MW more from Thailand.

We just signed last Thursday more than 300 Megawatts of combined hydro-solar with Laos. This is coming to Cambodia by 2026," Rottanak said in an interview during the Singapore International Energy Week.

According to the U.S. International Trade Administration (USTA), Cambodia has signed contracts with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos to import 1,030MW of electricity. This represents nearly a quarter the total power capacity of the country.

Rottanak expects to purchase another 200-plus megawatts from Vietnam and possibly more than 100 from Thailand.

He said that imports of goods from Vietnam will begin as soon as possible, as both the Cambodian national electric utility and the Vietnamese national electricity utility have completed their discussions and are awaiting final government approvals.

Rottanak stated that Cambodia's contract imports with neighbours showed the potential to boost interconnection in Southeast Asia. He added that this flexibility was needed due to the increasing volatility of hydropower production as a result of weather-related disruptions.

Since the 1970s, ASEAN has tried to create a regional power grid that would facilitate multilateral trade in electricity. However, progress has only been made through bilateral agreements.

Rottanak expects that the regional grid will become a reality in 2035. (Reporting and editing by Sharon Singleton; Sudarshan Varadhan)

(source: Reuters)