Hun Sen Orders Government Energy Saving
By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original re****t from Phnom Penh
14 March 2008
Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered government agencies to cut energy
corners where they can, in order to save on electric bills.
Air conditioners are to be kept at 25 degrees Celsius and turned off
30 minutes before quitting time, Hun Sen wrote in a directive.
Government officials are to cut other energy costs to decrease budget
expenditures, he wrote. The rising price of fuel increases the price
of electricity, Hun Sen said, as he ordered that air-conditioners be
limited to 25 degrees Celsius and turned off thirty minutes before
quitting time.
Computers, printers and photo copiers must be turned off when not in
use, and computers should be turned off and unplugged, he said.
He encouraged the use of natural light coming through office windows,
and said street lights on only one side of the road will be
illuminated, and not before sunset.
Ith Prang, secretary of state for the Ministry of Energy, said Friday
the directive was on the right track, as Cambodia does not produce
enough energy.
"Up to now, some places neglected the use of energy," he said. "Some
places use extremely too much."
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the measure would do much less than
the much-awaited anti-corruption law, which is in the hands of the
government and has not been passed to the National Assembly for
approval.
"If we reduce electricity use, we earn only one or two cents, but
corruption makes a loss to the national revenue of around $500 million
per year," he said. "The reduction of the use of electricity will earn
only $20,000 or $30,000."
Only about 20 percent of Cambodians currently have access to
electricity. Several Chinese companies have begun construction on
hydroelectric power plants in an effort to increase the country's
power production.
The government expects by 2030, it could provide around 70 percent of
the population with power, including electricity purchased from
Thailand and Vietnam.
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