Thursday, December 30, 2010

Massive Hydropower Project Begins Amid Warnings

A fishing boat floats on the Mekong river at Sambor in Cambodia's Kratie Provice, another site in the country that has been chosen for a proposed 18-kilometer hydro-dam. (Photo: AP)
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Wednesday, 29 December 2010
"If we can reduce our dependence on petroleum, oil or gasoline, our energy security will be ensured."
Cambodia broke ground on a new Chinese-funded hydropower dam in Koh Kong province on Tuesday, despite warnings from conservation groups of a heavy impact to the surrounding environment.

The $495 million dam, which China Huandian Corporation will control in a build-operate-transfer scheme for 35 years, is expect to produce 338 megawatts by 2015. NGO Forum, a group of organizations, has called the project “outdated, expensive and risky.” Other critics say the negative impacts of the dams outweigh the benefits.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has called concerns over the dam “extremist.”


“Is there any development that doesn’t have an impact on the environment and natural resources,” he said in a speech. “Please provide a reasonable response. If we can reduce our dependence on petroleum, oil or gasoline, our energy security will be ensured.”

At least five Chinese companies are investing in dam projects—in the provinces of Kampong Speu, Kampot, Koh Kong and Pursat and along the Mekong river.

Hun Sen said he expects power to flow from different projects by the end of 2011, and into 2012, 2013 and 2015.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Prime minister Hun Sen! your lost your land and sea again, next time Cambodian border next to your home, Heng Somrin he lost his entire home village to Viet already but dare to say nothing, Chea Sim is too weak to say anything except prepare himself for judgement day, where is our belove king please get out from closet and give a big slap on Hun Sen face and say louder "why you gave my land and sea to Viet and punish my people hasss!"?, His majesty the king you can not stay in closet for too long, Cambodian are waiting for you to do something, you have no wife no kid must not afraid to die, you will be our hero king forever.

Anonymous said...

we need electricity for our country, how else are we going to get electricity to brighten up our nation if we can't build dams, can build nuclear power plant, etc, etc? don't expect my country cambodia to depend on the evil neighboring siem and youn forever, ok! take your whining elsewhere, ok, like siem and viet/youn country, ok! cambodia reserves the rights to limited supply of electricity, too, you know! you have better solution for us on electricity? if not, we say shut your mouth, ok! bye bye!

Anonymous said...

i don't want to see my country cambodia stay underdevelop anymore, you know! yes, we want and need unlimited supply of electricity so our country can compete and grow like the rest of the developing world, you know! if you so against cambodia's development, what do you suggest we do? well, if you have nothing good or productive to advise us, then go take your complain elsewhere in vietnam and thailand, ok! stop bias on my country cambodia, ok! you're not helping! good bye!

Anonymous said...

I used to support environmental group but this time I am with the prime minister, Cambodia are always has problem with environment but Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, China are not they continue to develope their power and sell to us,and left Cambodia undevelope and buy power from neightbouring country. We do not have money to buy power from others all the time unless we continue to cut down the trees which some people donnot wanted to. Environmentalist please find alternative for us to meet out power demand. Cambodia for more than 6 decade never enjoy electricity like others countries had enjoy it. Please stop punish Cambodia in this way.

Anonymous said...

Yes,if Hun Sen doesn't depend on others countries such as Vietnam,China,South Korea and etc...
for his own power and his clans,can he develop himself-
confidence to gain it?
Do not depend others for your own
grant it,but develop yourself-confidence to gain it.
These countries above will take a lot more benefits from Khmer,maybe 75%.