Frequent blackouts force households to eat by candlelightWednesday, 29 July 2009
By Guy Delauney
BBC News, Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh comes alive in the early evening. The sweltering heat of daytime dies down a little, giving people a chance to venture outside without immediately becoming drenched in sweat.
It is a time to enjoy the streetside restaurants, and browse through the shops and markets. But all too often this pleasure is interrupted by a familiar, unwelcome event known locally as a "daipleung".
Cafes go dark, music cuts out abruptly and whole streets erupt in groans and shrieks of dismay.
Once again Phnom Penh's electricity supply has proved unequal to the demands of a growing, increasingly power-hungry city.
Struggling to cope
Three decades of war left Cambodia's infrastructure damaged and dilapidated.
The return of peace has brought double-digit growth over most of the past decade, but the spread of new industries, air conditioners and electronic equipment has left the national electricity company struggling to cope.
"If you look at developed countries, annual growth in demand is in single digits, but we've been facing a 20 to 25% increase; that's a big jump," says the government official in charge of Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Keo Rottanak.
"That increase in demand gives us a tremendous burden. There is not enough generation and no grid to distribute to different locations when there's a shortage."
Generating demand
The impact on business is considerable. Without a reliable mains electricity supply, companies are left with two choices; buy a generator or face a shutdown every time there is a blackout.
Large-scale enterprises like garment factories and big hotels generally opt for the generator.
The fuel costs incurred are considerable - but still preferable to losing customers because orders are not ready on time or guest rooms lack power.
Smaller businesses have more of a dilemma.
Ngaiy Tan Hun's family noodle-making business in the centre of Phnom Penh is typically ill-equipped to deal with prolonged blackouts.
"When there's a power cut production stops," she says.
"On a normal day we can cope with power cuts - but during festival and holiday times demand increases and so blackouts then are big problem."
Symbol of hope
Phnom Penh is in fact better off than most of Cambodia.
Only about a fifth of the population has access to mains electricity. The rest make do with expensive local supplies driven by generators, or run small appliances and lights from 12-volt car batteries.
The dearth of power is a major disincentive to investors.
Apart from the garment industry, there is little large-scale manufacturing in Cambodia.
So the pylons which are steadily marching their way from the border with Vietnam towards Phnom Penh are a symbol of hope.
Cambodia's larger neighbour will supply the power which could bring an end to the blackouts - and electricity to areas which previously had none.
Light relief
The deal was brokered by the Asian Development Bank, which also put up around half of the $100m (£61m) it cost to erect the pylons, connect the power lines and build the substations.
It should be just a matter of weeks before the project goes live.
"Immediately we will be able to supplement what we are short of now," says EDC's Keo Rottanak.
"It is the first segment of a national grid that we have ever had in Cambodian history. People who have been looking for power will have their dreams come true."
There may still be power cuts as the new system is brought online, but they should be the last blackouts Phnom Penh will see for some time.
That will be a relief for families and businesses alike, though not perhaps for the sellers of generators and emergency lights.
Vietnam still suffers occasional blackouts of its own, making the sale of power to its neighbour a little ironic.
But the new transmission lines run both ways. So if, in the future, Cambodia has a power surplus it should be able to return the favour.
It is a time to enjoy the streetside restaurants, and browse through the shops and markets. But all too often this pleasure is interrupted by a familiar, unwelcome event known locally as a "daipleung".
Cafes go dark, music cuts out abruptly and whole streets erupt in groans and shrieks of dismay.
Once again Phnom Penh's electricity supply has proved unequal to the demands of a growing, increasingly power-hungry city.
Struggling to cope
Three decades of war left Cambodia's infrastructure damaged and dilapidated.
The return of peace has brought double-digit growth over most of the past decade, but the spread of new industries, air conditioners and electronic equipment has left the national electricity company struggling to cope.
"If you look at developed countries, annual growth in demand is in single digits, but we've been facing a 20 to 25% increase; that's a big jump," says the government official in charge of Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Keo Rottanak.
"That increase in demand gives us a tremendous burden. There is not enough generation and no grid to distribute to different locations when there's a shortage."
Generating demand
The impact on business is considerable. Without a reliable mains electricity supply, companies are left with two choices; buy a generator or face a shutdown every time there is a blackout.
Large-scale enterprises like garment factories and big hotels generally opt for the generator.
The fuel costs incurred are considerable - but still preferable to losing customers because orders are not ready on time or guest rooms lack power.
Smaller businesses have more of a dilemma.
Ngaiy Tan Hun's family noodle-making business in the centre of Phnom Penh is typically ill-equipped to deal with prolonged blackouts.
"When there's a power cut production stops," she says.
"On a normal day we can cope with power cuts - but during festival and holiday times demand increases and so blackouts then are big problem."
Symbol of hope
Phnom Penh is in fact better off than most of Cambodia.
Only about a fifth of the population has access to mains electricity. The rest make do with expensive local supplies driven by generators, or run small appliances and lights from 12-volt car batteries.
The dearth of power is a major disincentive to investors.
Apart from the garment industry, there is little large-scale manufacturing in Cambodia.
"People who have been looking for power will have their dreams come true" - Keo Rottanak, Electricite du CambodgeReliable, affordable electricity may help to bring in more industries, and give the country's growth-base some sorely-needed diversity.
So the pylons which are steadily marching their way from the border with Vietnam towards Phnom Penh are a symbol of hope.
Cambodia's larger neighbour will supply the power which could bring an end to the blackouts - and electricity to areas which previously had none.
Light relief
The deal was brokered by the Asian Development Bank, which also put up around half of the $100m (£61m) it cost to erect the pylons, connect the power lines and build the substations.
It should be just a matter of weeks before the project goes live.
"Immediately we will be able to supplement what we are short of now," says EDC's Keo Rottanak.
"It is the first segment of a national grid that we have ever had in Cambodian history. People who have been looking for power will have their dreams come true."
There may still be power cuts as the new system is brought online, but they should be the last blackouts Phnom Penh will see for some time.
That will be a relief for families and businesses alike, though not perhaps for the sellers of generators and emergency lights.
Vietnam still suffers occasional blackouts of its own, making the sale of power to its neighbour a little ironic.
But the new transmission lines run both ways. So if, in the future, Cambodia has a power surplus it should be able to return the favour.
12 comments:
Dinners by candle light... Phnom Penh is a city of romance.
Kuoy Pichet
Previously, a foreigner who lives in Phnom Penh recommended that it was not a matter to people in PP to face electricity cut off, but he/she suggested one thing "TO PUBLISH SCHEDULE" to tell people about time and locations of blackout. I think it is a good ideas because people can be prepared. I hope that EDC may consider that suggestion.
Kuoy Pchet under the fluttering of the candle light!
me like it!
Now I know why the Phnom Penh population has grown so fast.
++++
To Mr Keo Rottanak and the government of Cambodia, please do not buy coal power plants as pollution will cause a lot of problems for the country and future generations. Natural gas power plants like the one at Chak Angre, bought from Tchekoslovakia in the 60's have been working fine, without pollution.
That image tears me up!
i rather have continuous electricity than using candlelight. i think candle should now be used only for hobby or other religious purposes. it is so outdated, to say the least. cambodia needs modern techology, out with the old, in with the new, modern life style. wake up people and look around the world, do they still use candlelight? not!!!!
we wahwahwah they hahahaha........
Phnom Penh needs to use more electricity than any buildings throughout the capital because the governor
must provide more electricity to the karaoke and the brothels entertainment business after the long day of corruption of the CPP officers.
we count they account........
hey, ignorant, that's what electricity was invented for! electricity should be unlimited supply in our country. why we still have to endure hardship after all these years. our country and khmer people deserve better now, you know. we demand gov't to look for way to provide our country with permanent and uninterrupted supply of electricity and so on. this is called modern development, you know, in case your head is still in the stone age or dark age! thank you!
All those powerful electricity is for corrupted government and rich of rich for their used. Such as laptop, swimming pool, plasma tv, air conditioning, video game, computer, karaoke, and etc.
We just candle when we short of candle no money for it. We have scattered for trash for money.
poor have no right, only rich will.
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