Alternative Energy Cambodia: 100% rural electrification by 2020
PHNOM PENH, 12/15 - The Cambodian government plans to electrify 100 percent of rural areas by 2020, in part by using renewable energy technologies according to The Cambodia Daily.
The plan will be carried out in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
According to officials of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, Cambodia, with a population of 13 million, currently has 13 percent of rural Cambodians and 54 percent of city dwellers access to the national electric grid.
The rest rely on expensive private generators or batteries for power.
The renewable energy master plan for Cambodia will be completed by 2006 that includes designs for solar energy, wind power, hydroelectric dams, animal-waste bio-gas facilities and plant- waste bio-mass generators.
Solar-powered cooking facilities and cow-manure processing are already in place in some rural areas, the ministry said.
Renewable energy sources will contribute to a cleaner environment and also lower the end price of electricity for the Cambodian poor.
Electricity today in Cambodia costs between 0.09 dollar and 0. 25 dollar per kilowatt hour in the cities and between 0.40 dollar and 0.80 dollar per kilowatt hour in the countryside.
Currently most of Cambodia`s power comes from the burning of petroleum, a costly option that will only worsen as cheap oil runs out.
posted by James at 7:00 am
2 Comments:
One has to wonder what the end use will be in regards to expanding electicity into the countryside and increasing into urban areas. I suspect that it will increase the quality of life for many. My fear is that it will lead to increased commercialization via TV. I hope the Cambodians are able to understand the dilemnas we all face with sustainability while planning their system.
it's the problem that the government planned and implement in slow maner. until now, i couldnot see it yet.
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