For nearly two decades, the National Strategic Development Plan, now guided by Rectangular Strategy Phase IV (RS4), has committed to enhancing Cambodia’s robust levels of socio-economic development. Each of the national plans and strategies give significant attention to a well-developed electricity sector as an essential component towards unlocking future growth and prosperity.

In this regard, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) continues to lower electricity costs to consumers and reduce reliance on power imports, while expanding access to grid-quality electricity in rural and remote communities. Cambodia has achieved outstanding progress towards providing electricity access for all, nearly meeting its electrification targets and building a strong foundation to transform the economy.

Cambodia has strong potential for solar energy, in fact some of the most robust levels of solar irradiation that can provide the country an opportunity to meet growing electricity demands in an economical, innovative and sustainable way. The RGC seeks to best realize this potential and operationalize the goals set out by the RS4. The RS4 emphasizes increased investments in clean and renewable energy, especially solar power, to limit generation from unclean sources, lower-carbon emissions and ensure long-term energy security for Cambodia.

Since 2010, Cambodia’s GDP has grown at an average of 7% each year, but its demand for electricity has grown even faster averaging around 20% per year. To power this growth, Cambodia has installed many new sources of electricity generation. The country had 584 MW of installed grid capacity in 2012, but by the end of 2018 it had about five times that with 2,560 MW. As trends of rapid economic and electricity growth are projected to continue far into the next decade, Cambodia must find new sources of electricity generation that are abundant, secure, affordable and environmentally sustainable.