PHNOM PENH (AFP) – Cambodia is scrapping plans for a USD1.5 billion coal project as crunch climate talks get underway in Dubai, the country’s energy minister told AFP yesterday.
Phnom Penh would instead consider building a terminal for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).
“Cambodia is fully committed to doing whatever it can to achieve net zero by 2050,” Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak said in a text message.
“Our first stop before that is at least 70 per cent renewables by 2030 with energy efficiency and electrification programmes as part of the integrated strategy.”
The 700 megawatt Botum Sakor plant had been planned on land in a protected reserve along the southwest coast of Koh Kong province. Its cancellation will be announced today by the prime minister during a groundbreaking ceremony for a hydropower dam in the same region, Rottanak said, and is intended to send a message to countries at the COP28 discussion.
“While the world talks, Cambodia acts,” he said.
In December 2021, the country published its roadmap to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
It includes a pledge to boost renewables, which already account for much of its electricity generation thanks to hydropower, as well as investments in LNG import, storage and infrastructure.
Coal generated 35.5 per cent of Cambodia’s electricity in 2022, according to the country’s electricity authority, with hydropower accounting for nearly 54 per cent.
