The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $52.72 million loan to support a project to expand Cambodia’s electricity grid to support the increased integration of renewable energy into the grid and help meet the country’s growing demand for clean, locally produced electricity.
Cambodia has rapidly expanded its electricity generation capacity, doubling its generation capacity from 8.68 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2020 to 17.85 TWh in 2024, the ADB said in a statement on September 18. While its reliance on electricity imports has declined from 3.06 WTh to 15.7 TWh over the same period.
“This progress reflects the country’s increasing energy self-reliance and the effectiveness of renewable energy sources in supporting development goals,” the ADB said in a statement.
Xinhua News Agency reported that Cambodia’s electricity network was built to support traditional energy and needs to be expanded to accommodate increasing solar and wind power. The project will build a 230-kilowatt high-voltage transmission line, 55 kilometers long, between Phothisat and Kampong Cham provinces, and upgrade nine high-voltage substations across the country, according to the statement.
In addition, the project is in line with Cambodia’s Energy Development Master Plan (2022-2040) and National Energy Efficiency Policy (2022-2030), which will help reduce energy losses in transmission and increase energy security.
