The Royal Government of Cambodia expressed its interest in participating in the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) for the first time in 2012.

The Readiness Plan has identified those targets and the action plan for the design of an institutional framework aimed to implement the SE4ALL’s priorities and achieve the Cambodia SE4ALL vision. By 2030, the people of the Kingdom of Cambodia will be able to sufficiently and efficiently produce as well as consume sustainable energy. This will contribute to ensure prosperity and equity within the country. Furthermore, this vision is in line with the energy policy of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

The Gap Analysis and Readiness Plan underwent a consultative process with relevant ministries, civil society organizations (CSO) and private sector and was approved in August 2013.

On the Renewable Energy side, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) promotes development of renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, biogas, micro hydropower etc. As for Energy Efficiency,the Government has encouraged the use of LED light for households and street lighting as well as the production of more than 3 million improved and efficient cook stoves, using wood and charcoal, for household use.

In its effort to achieve rural development, reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the people living in rural areas, the Royal Government of Cambodia has accelerated the development of rural electrification and ensured that all households have access to sustainable electricity supply at reasonable tariff.

The Goal of Rural Electrification Development Program are:
1. All villages be electrified with electricity of any type by the year 2020;
2. At least 70 % of households have access to grid quality electricity by the year 2030.

To date 62.06% of villages and 45.25 % of households have access to grid quality electricity.

To achieve these targets, solutions must be formiulated to materialize actions and commitments ensuring the national access to electricity, promote electricity efficiency and strengthen investment in renewable energy.

Cambodia believes SE4ALL is an innovative initiative that will result in stronger national capacity to:
1. Develop green development,
2. Formulate and implement robust policy reform and response,
3. Create enabling regulatory environment, supporting well-function institutions,
4. Attract investments, effective business models,
5. Finance facilitation, national and local energy delivery mechanisms,
6. Implement monitoring and evaluation system.

With the support from the SE4ALL fund and technical support from UNDP, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has led a consultation process to develop Gap Analysis and Readiness Plan for the SE4ALL.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the power sector in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The major change is represented by the sector reform including the promulgation of the electricity law, creation of electricity regulator body namely Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), commercialization of the state electricity utilities and establishment of sector development master plan.

Royal Government of Cambodia