Cao Kim Leng, a Cambodian villager from the Samlot commune of Battambang Province, where access to electricity is very limited, today received a solar-powered battery charging station.
This was possible thanks to a new project being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Cambodia, which focuses on improving the access to clean and affordable energy for productive uses in Cambodia’s rural areas. In doing so, it also helps reduce expenditure on diesel use and battery charging fees while, at the same time, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions.
With EUR 500,000 of funding from the Government of France, the project takes a public-private partnership approach, and supports around ten local energy entrepreneurs, who are willing to convert their diesel-based battery charging stations to solar-based ones, and equally shares the costs with them.
“This approach brings public and private actors together in the area of renewable energy and ensures benefits are inclusively shared among local people, namely energy entrepreneurs, respective commune councils for solidarity and local development. The project not only helps reduce operation and maintenance costs but also increases Cambodia’s energy independence in the larger context,” said Victor Jona, Director General of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Sok Narin, Head of UNIDO Operations in Cambodia, said that construction of other stations is still ongoing in different communes in Battambang and Pursat provinces.
“Once constructed and operationalized, we expect that the stations will have a capacity to charge at least 300 batteries per day and will enable at least 600 families to have access to better, clean and affordable energy. Furthermore, it is expected that at least 20 tones of carbon dioxide will be mitigated annually,” said Sok.
For more information, please contact:
Sok Narin
Head of UNIDO Operations, Cambodia
Or
Tonilin Lim
UNIDO Industrial Development Officer
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