A 300-megawatt coal-powered plant in the Cambodian province of Kampot will get about US$400 million worth of investment from an unnamed Chinese investor.
Scheduled for a groundbreaking in November, the plant will supply power to the Kampot Special Economic Zone, the Prey Nob oil-refinery in Sihanoukville and rice mills following a 30-month construction period, said Kampot Port president Vinh Huor.
“The proposed Kampot plant would cost $270 million with an additional $100 million for secondary buildings and the construction of an access road, the total cost will be about $370 million,” said Vinh Huor. The investment came in two parts – as a loan and a joint investment by the Chinese investor, he added.
A total of 1,00 ha is being allocated for the project; 600ha for the power plant and 400ha for tourism, housing and business aiming to provide jobs to more people in the region to help decrease emigration.
“The more electricity, the better, because the price will drop and it is a part attracting investment, such as the Chinese metal company, which is conducting a feasibility study on constructing a smelter in the area that could smelt more than five million tonnes of metal per year,” he said.
