Posted on 9 December 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 642
(Posted by CAAI News Media0)
“On 7 December 2009, the head of the Royal Government of Cambodia warned some environmental experts who frequently criticized and mentioned endless impacts from the construction of hydro-electric dams. At this point, the Prime Minister stressed that environmental impacts from hydro-electric dams really exist, but there are also much benefits from them, and the construction plans have been studied thoroughly.
“During his visiting to check the construction process of the hydro-electric dam at the Kamchay river in Teuk Chhou district, in Kampot on Monday morning, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen said, ‘The construction of the hydro-electric dam at Kamchay really creats floods in the upper areas, but it helps us with some points, including:
1- It helps create power of 193 megawatts;
2- It helps to control floods; and
3- It ensures that our Teuk Chhou [natural resort] has water both in the rainy and in the dry season.’
“It should be noted that this hydro-electric dam in Kampot will be finished in 2012, 112 meters high. By 7 December 2009, 47 meters have been constructed. The Royal Government contracted the construction to a Chinese company. After that, the company can sell the electricity and this will last for 30 years.
“Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen spoke about the site for this electric dam, saying, ‘If there had been no coup to oust King Norodom Sihanouk [in 1970], His Majesty would have created hydro-electric dams, and the burden would not have been left for us at present – but there was a political disturbance.’ In the meantime, according to the head of the Royal Government, more hydro-electric dams will be built in the future to supply power to the Cambodian people countrywide, and reduce petroleum consumption.
“At this time, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen emphasized, ‘Ten hydro-electric dams are being studied and being planned. Now we construct this hydro-electric dam in Kamchay, and we are building four other dams in Pursat, including the hydro-electric dams at the Atai river with 120 megawatts, at the Tatai river with 246 megawatts, at the Russey Chrum river with 338 megawatts, and at the Cheay Aren river with 108 megawatts. These hydro-electric dams will generate power for the citizens at the provinces along the Siamese [Thai] border.’
“Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen added that the government spends about US$20 million per year to ensure the electricity supply for the citizens in Phnom Penh [the government spends US$20 million every year on generating electricity so that it is not too expensive]. To have [affordable] electricity for consumption generated from petroleum, the Royal Government has to cover the expenses.
“There are some ideas that the consumption costs of electricity in Cambodia will be cheaper through the use of the power from hydro-electric dams that were and are being constructed in Cambodia; the government contracted the construction of most dams to Chinese investment companies. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen went on to say that just 200-300 megawatts or 400-500 megawatts are very small amounts of power for Chinese investment companies, because they have built already hydro-electric dams with the power of thousands of megawatts.
“To conclude, the construction of hydro-electric dams, to some extent, helps prevent environmental impacts as it reduces the emission of polluting smoke from the use of petroleum.”
Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #356, 8.12.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
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