The Project involved the construction and operation of the first utility-scale solar power project in Cambodia with capacity of 10 MWp DC. The Project is located in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, near the border with Viet Nam. The Project went through an international competitive bidding process which sought public-private partnerships that were transparent, competitive, and provide a level playing field. The Project is therefore expected to unlock Cambodias underutilized renewable energy resources and set an important precedent in the renewable energy sector in the country. A consortium led by Sunseap, a leading solar developer from Singapore, won the bid with a highly competitive tariff which was lower than the estimated average electricity supply cost in Cambodia. Commercial operations started in October 2017.
| Project Name | Cambodia Solar Power Project | |||||||||||||||
| Project Number | 50248-001 | |||||||||||||||
| Borrower/Company | Sunseap Asset (Cambodia) Co. Ltd. |
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| Country | Cambodia |
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| Location | Bavet | |||||||||||||||
| Type or Modality of Assistance |
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| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth |
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| Drivers of Change | Partnerships Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector | Energy / Renewable energy generation - solar |
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| Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | No gender elements | |||||||||||||||
| Responsible ADB Department | Private Sector Operations Department | |||||||||||||||
| Responsible ADB Division | Portfolio Management Division, PSOD | |||||||||||||||
| Responsible ADB Officer | Gulshan, Karan Raj | |||||||||||||||
| Project Sponsor(s) | SchneiTec Co. Ltd. Sunseap International Pte. Ltd |
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| Description | The Project involved the construction and operation of the first utility-scale solar power project in Cambodia with capacity of 10 MWp DC. The Project is located in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, near the border with Viet Nam. The Project went through an international competitive bidding process which sought public-private partnerships that were transparent, competitive, and provide a level playing field. The Project is therefore expected to unlock Cambodias underutilized renewable energy resources and set an important precedent in the renewable energy sector in the country. A consortium led by Sunseap, a leading solar developer from Singapore, won the bid with a highly competitive tariff which was lower than the estimated average electricity supply cost in Cambodia. Commercial operations started in October 2017. | |||||||||||||||
| Objectives and Scope | The project is the first utility-scale solar power plant in Cambodia, and the first competitively tendered renewable energy IPP project in the country. ADB's leading role in the financing package of the project will help demonstrate the benefits of increasing Cambodia's power supply through low-cost PPP arrangements from indigenous, renewable energy sources; and signal to the government, investors, and international financiers that private sector-led infrastructure investments can be undertaken successfully in a transparent manner, at a competitive price, and with a sound financing package. | |||||||||||||||
| Status of Operation/Construction | The project started construction in September 2016, started generation on 30 August 2017, and achieved commercial operation on 1 October 2017. | |||||||||||||||
| Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The project is aligned with ADB's country partnership strategy, 2014 2018 for Cambodia, and ADB's Energy Policy. |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | C |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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| Environmental Aspects | An initial environmental and social examination (IESE) has been prepared for the project. The project site is far from environment-sensitive areas and is largely surrounded by rice fields. Construction-related impacts such as an increase in dust and noise levels, and occupational and community health and safety risks, are not expected to be significant, given the short duration of the construction phase and the availability of readily implementable mitigation measures. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | All land required for the project site has been purchased from the sellers through negotiated settlement on a willing-buyer willing-seller basis. An overhead transmission line for electricity evacuation will use an existing canal and roadside right-of-way, which has been planned to avoid involuntary displacement impacts. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The project has no distinct and vulnerable indigenous peoples groups in the area that have the potential to be directly or indirectly affected by the project. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | Information disclosure and consultation with affected people were conducted in accordance with ADB requirements. |
| Timetable for assistance design, processing and implementation | |
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| Concept Clearance | 26 Jul 2016 |
| Credit Committee Meeting | 27 Oct 2016 |
| Approval | 07 Dec 2016 |
| Last PDS Update | 11 Sep 2020 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Extended Annual Review Report | Extended Annual Review Reports | Oct 2020 |
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Project Data Sheet (Khmer Translation) | Translated PDS | Dec 2016 |
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Report and Recommendation of the President | Reports and Recommendations of the President | Nov 2016 |
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | Sep 2016 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (January-December 2019) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Dec 2019 |
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (January-December 2018) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Dec 2018 |
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (May-December 2017) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Dec 2017 |
| Cambodia Solar Power Project: Initial Environmental and Social Examination Report | Environment and Social Impact Assessments | Oct 2016 |
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
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