The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$7.64 million loan to support the construction of a 100 megawatt (MW) solar power park in Cambodia.
In addition to ADB’s loan, the financing package for the National Solar Park Project includes a US$11 million loan and a US$3 million grant from the Strategic Climate Fund, specifically through the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program. Also included is a US$500,000 technical assistance grant provided by the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund to support the capacity development of Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Cambodia's national electricity utility, as well as the Electricity Authority of Cambodia, the national electricity regulator, in solar photovoltaic technology and solar park planning. ADB will administer these resources. The project was prepared with grants from the governments of Canada and Singapore.
The National Solar Park Project will enable EDC to construct a 100-MW capacity solar power park and other related facilities, including access roads, fencing, and drainage systems, in Kampong Chhnang Province. The project will also build a transmission system connecting to the main grid near Phnom Penh, which will allow the project to supply power to the national grid.
The solar power plants that will be part of the 100 MW solar park will be bid out to independent power producers in two phases, with the first phase aimed at a capacity of 60 MW. ADB’s Office of Public-Private Partnership is working as a transaction advisor to assist EDC to design and conduct an open and competitive bidding process.
