CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:22 pm Don't forget the ... But Coal Plants Planned Too...

Talks with Cambodia for energy projects, developing disputed border area
National
Sep 04. 2019
By The Nation

Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong says he will speak with his Cambodian counterpart regarding the dispute over the maritime border with the aim of joint development of the overlapping claim to benefit both countries on Thursday (September 5).

The 37th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting and Associated Meetings (AMEM) will be held from September 2 to September 6.

The main topic of the session is Cambodia’s need for energy to fuel future economic growth. Thailand generates a surplus of energy beyond the needs of its population. Both countries will discuss how to generate and trade energy for Cambodia. Thailand is ready to invest in a power plant if Cambodia followed a plan to build more plants in the country, said the minister.

“In this session, we will talk about future collaboration on energy between the two countries, not a final verdict. Energy collaboration is only part of the solution to a problem that has been around for 20-30 years.” Sontirat said.

Cambodia was reportedly interested in buying electricity from Thailand and in a joint investment in coal-fired power plants on Kong island, near the border with Thailand.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375824

September 16, 2019
Koh Kong’s first coal-fired plant up in the air: Ministry

The investors of a project to build the first coal-fired power plant in Koh Kong province are still looking for buyers, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

In 2017, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, a government-owned utility, started negotiations on building a 2,400-megawatt coal-fired plant in Koh Kong. The company is still looking for a buyer for the power that will be produced at the facility, according to Victor Jona, director-general of energy.

Mr Jona said progress on the project stalled because investors and buyers were previously unable to agree on the terms of purchase.

He was speaking after a meeting with Thailand’s Ministry of Energy and PTT, Thailand’s leading energy firm, to discuss energy cooperation.

“The investors and the Thai buyers could not agree on the price at which the energy will be sold,” Mr Jona said.

The process of building the first coal-fired power plant in Koh Kong began in 2008, when the government approved a plan by a Thai investor to conduct a feasibility study to build a $5-billion coal-fired power plant in the province.

The plant was intended to produce 3,600 megawatts of electricity for the Thai market, while 200 to 300 mega­watts were to be sold for Cambodian use.

In 2015, two other investors – Thailand Samart and Koh Kong Utility –partnered to build a 2,000-MW coal-fired power plant, but the project was dropped because the investors and the buyer failed to agree.

Cambodian Energy Co Ltd (CEL), a subsidiary of Malaysia’s Leader Universal Holdings, operates two 50-MW coal-fired power plants in Preah Sihanouk, while CIIDG Erdos Hongjun Electric Power has three 135-MW coal-fired power plants in the same province.

Han Seng Coal Mine Co Lte built a 200-MW coal-fired plant in Oddar Meanchey province that will be generating 100 MW a year by November 2020 and 200 MW by November 2021.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50643517/k ... -ministry/

If you wonder why i post all night, grind my teeth, and have a facial twitch related to my anxiety disorder.
- this project raising it's ugly head every few years is one of the reasons.

I don't think the economics have ever really stacked up - except for the Thai banks, the power plant constructors, and a few local big-boys.
But that is reason enough to sweat.

This is a paying article, so there is not much information in the teaser, but it is worth taking note.

Concern over Cambodia, Laos coal power deal
October 15, 2019
By: straitstimes.com

With plans for cross-border electricity grids growing in the region, Laos is banking on hydropower exports to earn revenue. But a recent deal to also sell coal power generated in Laos to Cambodia has sparked environmental concerns over this trade.

Last month, Cambodia's state-owned utility firm Electricite Du Cambodge signed a 30-year deal to buy coal power from two producers with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts (MW) situated in Laos' Xekong province. The two companies - Xekong Thermal Power Plant Company and TSBP Sekong Power and Mineral Company - will start supplying power from 2024.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-as ... power-deal

^^ Hey News, you cannot read the Straits Times report from the above link without signing up.
And signing up to the Straits Times anything is a security risk (i reckon )

Is the report too long to cut, paste and post - straits to us?

Wind and solar are incredibly expensive, extremely intermittent and diffuse, not that "clean" in terms of carbon footprint, and are absolutely wrong for Cambodia. Cambodia needs to utilize some form of the hydrocarbon molecule. Unless you want to build a nuke, there is no match for the cheap, consistent, power it provides.

Fossil fuels provide affordable energy, which is directly linked to people enjoying longer, healthier, and cleaner lives than those who are energy poor.

^^ Hey Lonestar, although i disagree with many aspects of what you say ^^ and the conclusions that you draw,
I will address just one angle for now - the best thing for the poor.

With traditional, including fossil, energy delivery - the poor farmer out in the sticks who wants a light at night and to recharge his phone, will always be outbid for electricity by the bloke who cannot live without aircon in every room 24/7.
Plus, the cost of building a system to cater for the wealthy's desire for high peak load is transferred also to the poor - even tho they certainly do not need nor want such an expensive high-end system.

Not having a go at you (just a good natured discussion) - but i think your argument is a classic example of the wealthy world conflating the needs of the poor to reinforce their own chosen paradigm.
It is cheaper for the city man to spread the cost of the grid to the poor.

There is also the reality that in Cambodia millions of people live in very remote areas, so the grid will be a long time coming.
A solar panel on the roof delivers for the poor.

Your carbon molocules will never do this, solar is doing it, right now >>

Lonestar wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 2:27 am Wind and solar are incredibly expensive, extremely intermittent and diffuse, not that "clean" in terms of carbon footprint, and are absolutely wrong for Cambodia. Cambodia needs to utilize some form of the hydrocarbon molecule. Unless you want to build a nuke, there is no match for the cheap, consistent, power it provides.

Fossil fuels provide affordable energy, which is directly linked to people enjoying longer, healthier, and cleaner lives than those who are energy poor.

That statement is so true, but it is all dependent on who is footing the bill, and offsetting the dirty power. One other thing is the poor country folk go to bed early only using little electricity, their single solar panel on the roof for watching a little television of listing too extreme loud music, plus a little light. The sunlight will hopefully put charge into a car battery during daylight. The Solar panel, battery and converter, wiring, one light and small LCD tv can be bought for just over $100 in kit form. If the battery needs more charge it's a cost anywhere local at 1000riel.
Many areas have mains electric, but to get connected you must supply a returnable deposit and your own wire from supply source to house. But the problem sometime ago was in the area you wished for connection, if there was not the amount of 10 dwelling wanting connection and paying fees to the electric suppler there is little chance, or rather none at all.

Last month, Cambodia's state-owned utility firm Electricite Du Cambodge signed a 30-year deal to buy coal power from two producers with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts (MW) situated in Laos' Xekong province. The two companies - Xekong Thermal Power Plant Company and TSBP Sekong Power and Mineral Company - will start supplying power from 2024.
Keeping the dirty power on the other side of the border, but still not being able to provide its own power.

I have always wondered why the byproduct from burning coal ,,,, smoke, Co2 , dust etc, is not treated the same as the byproduct from using water. As an example , do we allow water to be used, then just dumped into streams, rivers and the ocean without it being treated. Yet those that own or operate coal and oil fired power stations just dump the used byproduct into the atmosphere without it being treated.

Lonestar wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 2:27 am Fossil fuels provide affordable energy, which is directly linked to people enjoying longer, healthier, and cleaner lives than those who are energy poor.

Yeah... but the U.N. steals their childhood.

I am not opposed to any form of energy. They all have benefits and costs. Solar is okay for a niche market of people who only need to use minimal electricity at night. However, Cambodians increasingly desire air cons, internet, nice TV's, and the other nice creature comforts that the wealthier countries have enjoyed for decades. The best way to provide those things is by making energy cheap, and the best way to provide cheap energy that can run a few lights and an air con...or can run a factory, is through the use of fossil fuels. Poor countries are inevitably energy poor, as was the case in Cambodia in the not very recent past. Energy poverty leads to lack of comfort, lack of sanitation, lack of incubators in hospitals, lack of refrigeration for medicine...the list is endless. A couple of decades ago, only a small percentage of Khmers had electricity, and life in the Kingdom was very difficult as a result. There is a direct correlation between affordable energy, and human health, happiness, and a clean environment.