[PHNOM PENH POST]
American conglomerate General Electric and the Ministry of Industry,
Mines and Energy yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding, forming
a development partnership to enhance industrial infrastructure and
research alternative energy use in the Kingdom.
GE, one of the
largest companies in the US, 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.
“This
is the first time we have signed an MoU with MIME. It is in place to
address the country’s growing power needs, which has been increasing at
approximately 25 per cent a year,” Kenji Uenishi said.
He added
that it coincides with Cambodia’s rural electrification programme, which
is expected to provide electricity via power grids to 70 per cent of
the Kingdom’s households by 2030.
“Our partnership will focus on
the measurement and feasibility of grid application and agricultural
waste-to-energy biomass power projects.”
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 yesterday.
“We are trying
to take advantage of our natural energy resource in order to supply to
all the villages. With the assistance of green energy, we can spread
power to 100 per cent of the rural villages,” he said, adding that
private sector involvement would be significant in achieving this.
“We
welcome all private partners to invest in renewable energy – it is very
important to have these partnerships, only private investors can
increase the development of our country.”
Following the signing
ceremony, GE's Rice met with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to discuss the
possibilities of further assistance from the company, according to
Council of Ministers Spokesman Ek Tha.
Sok An told General Electric’s
vice chairman that Cambodia required more investment in building
capacity and creating jobs, he said.
“We are seeking your
assistance in training and capacity building – these are important
contributions to developing the country,” Sok An was quoted as saying by
Ek Tha.
In response to the Deputy PM’s call, GE said it is
considering implementing one- or two-week courses that will focus on
leadership skills, Ek Tha told the Post yesterday.
He added that
GE intends to set up a pilot project to produce bio-fuel from rice
husks, however, it would initially need to seek financial cooperation
from local banks.
GE is already involved in transportation,
energy and health infrastructure and to date has provided the Ministry
of Health with US$5 million worth of medical equipment, a figure Rice
said will increase to $7 million, according to Ek Tha.
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