Cambodia’s Stung Pursat 1 dam expects to start generating power in December
The 80MW project is more than 90 per cent complete, but its managing director says full output may take until the following year.
Cambodia’s Stung Pursat 1 hydropower project is expected to start producing electricity in December 2026, managing director Hong Soo Young said during an October 23 media visit. The 80MW facility in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district is being developed by South Korean company SPHP (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.
Hong put construction progress at more than 90 per cent and said the gates had been closed to allow the reservoir to fill. However, insufficient stored water could delay generation at the full installed capacity until the following year. The company’s timetable targets December 31, 2026, for construction completion.
Work began in 2021 on the project, approximately 75 kilometres from Pursat town. Its generating capacity is split equally between two units. The reservoir can hold approximately 1.2265 billion cubic metres, with about 999 million cubic metres available as regulating storage.
Hong said the reservoir was designed to support electricity production throughout the year despite seasonal changes in water availability. He also said retaining heavy rainfall upstream could ease flooding downstream towards Pursat town, but gave no estimate of the reduction or the area that might benefit.
Stored water could also support dry-season farming after passing through the turbines, according to Hong. He said discharge could reach approximately 3.5 million cubic metres daily under optimal operating conditions. Flood control and agricultural supply will depend on reservoir management, hydrological conditions and downstream water distribution infrastructure.
The company is financing construction under a 35-year investment agreement, Hong said. At the end of that period, the entire project is to pass to the Cambodian government.
