GE enters into MoU with Cambodia on energy development

General Electric (GE) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME)  have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), forming a development partnership to enhance industrial infrastructure and research alternative energy use in the Kingdom, according to a report in The Phnom Penh Post yesterday.

According to the MoU, GE plans to work alongside MIME to promote energy initiatives involving advanced gas turbine technology and efficient smart grid technology, according to GE Vice Chairman John Rice.

“As one of the dynamic countries in ASEAN today, Cambodia’s location between Vietnam and Thailand means it plays a strategic role in the rapidly growing cross-border trade,” he said.

The MoU was signed by Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem and GE Asia regional president Kenji Uenishi at the ministry on Monday, who said that it would help “address the country’s growing power needs, which has been increasing at approximately 25 per cent a year.”

He added that it coincides with Cambodia’s rural electrification program, which is expected to provide electricity via power grids to 70 percent of Cambodia’s households by 2030.

While almost three quarters of households are expected to be on the grid by 2030, Cambodia hopes to supply electricity to every village in the Kingdom by 2020, MIME Secretary of State Ith Praing said.