As Cambodia’s demand for energy continues to increase year after year, experts are calling for the development and implementation of clear policy that encourages both the public and industry to play their part in practicing energy efficiency and conservation.
This is not merely because energy efficiency and conservation efforts are seen as climate friendly but because they can and will play a major role in the Kingdom’s sustainable economic growth. Between 2019 and 2040, global primary energy consumption is expected to rise by 25 percent.
With the growing demand for electricity forecast as particularly strong in Cambodia, the International Energy Agency identifies improving energy efficiency as the most critical element in bringing Cambodia towards a clean energy status society.
Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia Nick Beresford said: “A clear energy efficiency policy is needed to bring energy security, sustainability and monetary benefits to end-users. Efforts towards improving energy efficiency could provide enormous economic benefit to the Kingdom and can play a vital role in ensuring a low carbon development path for the country. ”According to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Master Plan of Cambodia, the key factor in Cambodia improving its energy efficiency is reaching out to the commercial, residential and industrial sectors.
If public and business entities become fully aware and interested in EEC practices, people will also change their behaviour, which translates into the potential for substantial energy savings nationwide.
For organisations to achieve energy efficiency they will need to adopt energy management practices that adhere to well-planned actions that reduce their energy bills.
The two main energy management strategies are conservation and efficiency. Energy management requires the establishment of a system of usage data collection, analysis and reporting on an industry’s energy consumption and costs.
Many energy saving measures require little or no investment. They can be achieved by improving maintenance and optimising existing operations. The upgrading of existing equipment with modern energy efficient equipment can improve an industry’s competitiveness by decreasing the intensity of its energy needs with the added benefit of also reducing its environmental impact.
Stephane Munster, Co-founder of Sirea Asia, a leading energy firm, said: “Cambodia’s energy efficiency is key to its economic development and the well-being of its people. Attracting foreign industrial investment and retaining industries already present mandated to meet demanding international standards, depends on it. Both nations and industry must be competitive in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact when vying for investment and the jobs attached to it. This will be even more important after the pandemic.”
Industrial energy efficiency translates directly into lower production costs, which leads to profit maximisation. Industries that become familiar with and adopt energy efficient technologies and techniques will improve their competitiveness.
Meanwhile, the Government of Laos has signed an agreement with Muang Khong Clean Energy to build a solar power plant at Khong district, Champasack province.
According to a report by Vientiane Times, the project has now completed a feasibility study and will become the first installation in Laos to export solar energy to Cambodia.
The Project Development Agreement was signed in Vientiane, between Khamchan Vonseneboun, deputy minister of Planning and Investment, and the Director of Khong Clean Energy Company Pattarapong Kongwijit.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
