Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Cambodia’s state-owned electricity utility, has launched an international competitive bidding process to develop a 60 MW solar power project in Kampong Chhnang province. The project forms part of a larger plan to build a 100 MW solar park, reflecting the country’s effort to increase the share of renewable energy in its power mix and expand access to affordable electricity.
The solar project will be developed under a build-own-operate (BOO) model. Under this structure, the selected developer will take full responsibility for the project’s lifecycle. This includes designing the plant, arranging financing, constructing the facility, and managing its long-term operation and maintenance. By adopting this model, EDC aims to attract experienced private sector players while ensuring efficient project execution.
To maintain electricity affordability, EDC has fixed a maximum tariff ceiling of $0.076 per kilowatt-hour. The electricity generated from the plant will be supplied to the national grid through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between EDC and the winning bidder. This arrangement is expected to provide stable revenue for the developer and price certainty for the utility.
The project scope goes beyond solar panel installation. It also includes the construction of a dedicated substation and a transmission interconnection system. These supporting facilities are necessary to integrate the new solar capacity into the existing power network and ensure reliable electricity delivery.
Companies interested in participating in the bidding process must submit a bank guarantee or a standby letter of credit worth $500,000. The financial guarantee must be issued by a bank authorized to operate in Cambodia. This requirement is intended to ensure that only serious and financially capable bidders take part in the tender.
This initiative highlights Cambodia’s growing focus on clean energy development. Across Southeast Asia, countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia are also accelerating renewable energy deployment. For Cambodia, the 60 MW solar project represents an important step toward strengthening energy security, reducing dependence on conventional sources, and meeting rising domestic electricity demand. The proposal submission deadline was set for May 2019, marking a key milestone in the country’s renewable energy expansion plans.
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