Construction Of Giant Coal Plan Continues As Scheduled

Construction of the massive coal-fired power plant being built in Preah Sihanouk, known as the CIIDG Erdos Hongjun Electric Power plant, will reach the midway point by the end of the year, officials at the Ministry of Mines and Energy recently disclosed. The 700-megawatt plant, first approved in December of 2010, is a joint venture between Cambodia International Investment Development Group (CIIDG) and Chinese-based Erdos Hongjun Electric Power Co. The $383-million project operates under a 33-year build-own-operate scheme in Preah Sihanouk province's Stung Hav district. Construction began in 2012, with its first and second generating units coming online in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Tun Lean, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said the power plant was already partially operational, with a total annual production capacity of 270 megawatts. "Another unit equalling 135 megawatts will be put into operation by the end of the year," Tun said. The plant sits next Cambodia's first 100-megawatt coal-fired plant, built by Malaysian-owned Leader Universal Holdings in 2014. For more on this story, please click here.