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Cambodia's decision to walk backward by choosing coal-fired power plants

 

27 March 2020


 
 
28 March is the #EarthHour, #Voicefortheplanet and you just made a big decision to walk backward. Can you explain why you approved these power-plants, unanimously? How many trees will you approve to be planted to absorb the GHG you approved to emit? Will you?
 
The National Assembly and the Royal Government of Cambodia are failing Cambodia and the global environmental health, adaptation and sustainable future of our generation and our future generations. Can anyone from the national assembly explain why you approved these power plants? 
 
The NA’s unanimous approval on 26 March 2020 is permitting the construction of 2 coal-fired power plants worth $1.666 billion, after the Council of Ministers proposed in February 2020. The Royal Group will build a 700MW plant in Botum Sakor district of Koh Kong. Han Seng Coal Mine Co., Ltd. covers 265MW in Oddar Meanchey’s Trapaing Prasat district. The government claimed these plants will supply 500,000 or 7% of 3.8 million houses currently have no access to electricity.(https://www.phnompenhpost.com/.../national-assembly...)
 
It sounds good, but I wonder if the government and the NA have done some math? To fuel 1MW, it requires 9 tons of coal every day. Totally the two power plants will burn 7,785 tons per day. Of course, CO2 and other greenhouse gases will be polluting the surroundings and the planet. Is it not the most polluting option? Will those coal be imported from China? 
 
If invested in green energy such as solar power plant of 865MW, only $865 million is required over about 865ha of land. The construction could be way faster. Can anyone from the national assembly explain why you approved these power plants, unanimously? 
 
Globally, people are fighting for urgent obligation of richer countries to invest in adaptation measures. Experts claimed it requires of $1.8 trillion or more investment to improve adaption over the next decade; and the Cambodian NA and the Royal Government are approving a reverse direction. 
 
To the NA and the RGC, can you explain why you approved these power-plants, unanimously? How many trees will you approve to be planted to absorb the GHG you approved to emit? Will you? Don't say Cambodia, as one of the LDC, is not bonded by the carbon credit as an excuse to harm our generations.


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