The Council for the Development of Cambodia has awarded a final registration certificate to Botum Sakor Energy to develop a 700 MW (2x350 MW) coal-fired power project in Thmar Sor commune, in the Botum Sakor district of the Koh Kong province. In November 2020, Botum Sakor Energy, an affiliate of Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group, signed a contract with the Chinese company Sinosteel Engineering & Technology for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the project. The U$1bn project is expected to take 4 years to develop and full commercial operations are planned in 2024. The state-owned power utility Électricité du Cambodge will buy 80% of the power generated by the power plant (4.8 TWh/year).
Coal accounts for 21% of Cambodia’s installed capacity, with 430 MW (end of 2019). Around 840 MW of coal-fired projects are currently under construction, and more than 1.4 GW under development.