The European Union and Cambodia Launched the First Wind Power Electricity Generator in Cambodia

The European Union and Cambodia Launched the First Wind Power Electricity Generator in Cambodia

The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 648

Note:

From Friday, 22 to Monday 25 January 2010 I plan to travel to attend the first BarCamp in Yangon/Myanmar [3]. This may result in delays in the publication of The Mirror. Apologies.

Norbert Klein

“Phnom Penh: The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Tram Iv; the Belgian Ambassador, Mr. Rudi Veestraelen; and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Delegation of the European Commission to Cambodia, Mr. Rafael Dochao Moreno, together inaugurated the first Wind Power Electricity Generator in Cambodia on 20 January 2010.

“The Wind Power Generator was constructed under a project of Euro 1.2 million (US$1.74 million), and jointly funded by the Sihanoukville Port Authority (48%), by the government of Belgium (28%), and by the European Commission (24% through the Asia Pro Eco program [4]). This pilot project intends to show that renewable energy, especially that from wind power, is an effective energy source for Cambodia and for Southeast Asia.

“Mr. Rafael Dochao Moreno said, ‘I believe that this project makes an important contribution to create sustainable solutions to reduce environmental pollution and other challenges in energy, relating to the development of the Sihanoukville port. Actually, energy is necessary for the development of the area to become an economic hub in order to increase employment.’

“Mr. Jacques Dezeure, Flanders Technical Representative for Environment and Infrastructure in Asia of the
Ministry of the Flemish Community, Department of Environment and Infrastructure Flanders, said, ‘The electricity generated by wind power at the Sihanoukville port is vital not only for the port, but also for Cambodia as a whole.’

“The production of electricity through a Wind Power Electricity Generator will be carefully monitored, financed by the government of Belgium, and the real amount of energy produced will be carefully checked. It is expected that the electricity automatically generated by wind power, for the first time in Cambodia [on this scale], will serve as an energy source and a leading model also for other ports in the region to consider using renewable energy.

“It should be noted that in September 2001, the Minister of Mobility, Public Works and Energy in Flanders, Belgium, led a delegation to Cambodia, signed a friendship agreement with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia, and visited the Sihanoukville port. After the visit, both countries’ delegations established a plan to supply electricity at the Sihanoukville port aiming at totally depending on renewable energy.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5105, 21.1.2010

This article was first published by The Mirror, [5] Vol. 14, No. 648 -Thursday, 21.1.2010
Have a look at the last editorial - you can access it directly from the main page of The Mirror. [5]

Norbert Klein is the Editor of The Mirror [6] – The Mirror is a daily comprehensive summary and translation of the major Khmer language press - More about The Mirror [7]