Electricity of Cambodia (EDC), the country's energy producer and supplier, has placed the nation and the capital Phnom Penh on rolling blackouts for the past week. This is expected to last 72 days. The kingdom is facing an electricity deficit of approximately 360 megawatts (MW), or 13% compared to 2018, which represents the baseline, the barometer of the country's electricity needs. This is due to the premature arrival of the dry season and the El Niño heat wave.

Residents of Phnom Penh have experienced unpredictable daily routines over the past week, particularly in the workplace. Each district of the capital, as well as numerous towns and villages throughout the provinces, are on a rotating power schedule. On even-numbered days, some neighborhoods receive electricity in the morning while others wait for the afternoon. The reverse applies on odd-numbered days. This arrangement is expected to last 72 days, until the dry season ends in late May. This measure does not apply on weekends and public holidays, when EDC distributes power normally across all areas.

The root of the problem

The El Niño heat wave that has swept the country since mid-March has severely compromised Cambodia's electricity production system, which relies predominantly on hydroelectric dams. Cambodia produced 2,650 MW of electricity locally in 2018, a figure sufficient to meet the country's needs. The kingdom's seven dams (Kirirom 1, Kamchay, Kirirom 3, Stung Atay, Stung Tatay, Lower Russey Chrum, Lower Sesan 2) accounted for 50% of this production (1,300MW). This method far outweighs solar and coal-fired power plants. The current lack of water due to drought prevents the turbines at these facilities from generating sufficient electricity for the population. A concerning situation for Morgan Havet, a French expatriate in Cambodia. "According to reports, the El Niño heat wave is expected to peak between April and May—we're still only in March."

Last week, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen alerted the population and appealed for collective understanding. Everyone must make an effort. "Climate change does not affect only Cambodia, but the entire region. We need water to produce electricity. I ask everyone not to waste water, as we will experience a long dry season lasting until June," he stated. Hun Sen also proposed, as an emergency and temporary solution, the use of generators when power is cut "as we have done in the past." Commercial announcements then appeared on social media targeting those needing centralized power at any time. The government now faces a major challenge, and longer-term solutions have also been announced.

International appeal

To navigate this energy crisis period, Cambodia has launched an appeal to neighboring countries to reassess their current energy exports to the kingdom. Last year, 442 MW were imported from Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. The latter, which is also experiencing serious distribution problems, has refused to expand its sales. The heads of EDC announced, however, that they will purchase 80 MW from Thailand and 10 from Laos. The Land of a Million Elephants clarified in connection with this agreement that these 10 MW are part of a total of 200 MW to be delivered to Cambodia over the period 2019-2021.

EDC technicians have been energized over the past few days, and their activities extend beyond the country's borders. Representatives met last week with members of the Turkish embassy in Phnom Penh to discuss the price and conditions for installing a floating power plant in Cambodia—another measure to address the shortage.

Electricity of Cambodia also wants to accelerate the solar energy sector. Kompong Speu Province is home to several solar park projects in development. The Tmat Pong park, capable of producing 60 MW, will be placed at EDC's disposal well ahead of schedule due to the circumstances. "The park will produce 20 MW by mid-April and operate at full capacity by August. This project will therefore be completed four months ahead of the date stipulated in the contract," the energy supplier published on its Facebook account.

Energy conservation is paramount during this period of shortage. It is obviously not a war effort but an energy crisis effort being asked of each citizen during this dry season. A civic effort, in essence, so that a relative balance in electricity distribution across the kingdom can be maintained in these months.