Laos, Vietnam to provide power to Cambodian border provinces [-Dependence on foreign energy: A dangerous economic situation]

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have signed an energy cooperation agreement, hastening the construction of two World Bank-funded power lines from Vietnam to Kompong Cham province and Laos to Stung Treng province, local media reported Wednesday.

The construction will start in 2008 and is expected to be completed in 2010, the Cambodia Daily newspaper said, citing Tan Kim Vin, direct general of the state-run Electricity du Cambodge.

One power line will stretch from Tay Ninh province in southern Vietnam through Ponhea Krek district to Tbong Khmum district's Suong commune in Kompong Cham, Tan Kim Vin said, adding that the second line from Champasak province in Laos will reach Stung Treng provincial town.

Mohinder Gulati, a World Bank energy specialist, said last year that the lines are expected to greatly reduce the cost of electricity in those areas.

The lines will cost a total of 18 million U.S. dollars, said Ith Praing, Secretary of State for the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

While Vietnam already provides Cambodia with power via more than seven cross-border points, the deals marks the first time resources from Laos will directly benefit Cambodia, he said.

Cambodia to buy electricity from Vietnam and Laos

December 30, 2007 Sunday
Vietnamese News Agency (VNA)

Industry officials from Cambodia , Laos and Viet Nam have inked a deal on power cooperation.

Under the agreement signed on December 29, Cambodia will buy electricity from the Electricity of Viet Nam corporation (EVN) to provide to Kongpong Cham province and electricity from Laos for the northern province of Stung Treng.

To implement the contract, Laos plans to build a transformer station and 25 km of 115 kV line from Champasak province to the Laos-Cambodia border. Viet Nam will also build a 110 KV power line to transmit electricity from southern Tay Ninh province to the border area with Cambodia .

Meanwhile, Cambodia will build two 110 kV transmission lines. Work on the two lines will start in early 2008 and is expected to complete in 2010.

Viet Nam has provided annually 24 million kWh to Cambodia through nine points in the southern provinces of Tay Ninh, Kien Giang, An Giang, Binh Phuoc and Long An. Viet Nam and Laos have also agreed to join hands in building hydropower stations in Laos to provide electricity to Viet Nam . One of their cooperation projects, the Sekaman 3, with a capacity of 240 MW, has already been underway and will start operation in 2009.