Cambodia launches $1B Upper Tatay hydropower project to advance clean energy goals

PHNOM PENH, April 10, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has launched construction of the Upper Tatay Pumped Storage Hydropower Project, a $1 billion initiative aimed at strengthening energy security and accelerating the country’s transition toward clean energy.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Energy Minister Keo Rottanak and Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin, underscoring close cooperation between Cambodia and China in the energy sector.

The project, Cambodia’s first pumped storage hydropower facility, is being developed by Chinese enterprises and is expected to take five years to complete. Once operational, it will have a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts, significantly enhancing electricity supply and grid stability.

Ambassador Wang said the project would improve Cambodia’s ability to manage peak demand, ensure reliable power, and support the government’s target of achieving 70 percent clean energy by 2030.

He noted that Chinese-backed power projects have already helped raise Cambodia’s electrification rate from 50 percent to nearly 96 percent, while increasing the share of clean energy to more than 63 percent.

Minister Rottanak reaffirmed that expanding renewable energy remains a government priority, with hydropower and solar forming the backbone of Cambodia’s energy mix.

Officials said the Upper Tatay project is expected to boost clean energy capacity, stabilize electricity prices, and improve resilience to global energy market volatility, marking a significant step in Cambodia’s long-term energy strategy.