The government is seeking investors for its proposed national electricity grid and is hoping to have the main backbone of the system in place by 2015.

The proposed national grid ? part of the 2013-18 Cambodia Power Development System plan ? will be controlled by the state-run Electricite du Cambodge (EdC), but Special Purpose Transmission Licences will be available to private companies to operate sections of the grid to supply individual consumers as well as rural areas off the main grid.

Phnom Penh, which accounts for 85 per cent of Cambodia’s electricity consumption, will be at the heart of the proposed grid. Substations will be built in the capital, Kampong Speu, Takeo, Kampot and Sihanoukville by 2011. The grid will be connected to western Cambodia by 2012 to supply electricity to Siem Reap, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey.