Wah Seong Venturing into Biomass Power Project

Wah Seong Corp Bhd’s indirect subsidiary, PMTI Energy (Cambodia) Co Ltd has entered into a power purchase agreement with Electricite Du Cambodge (EDC), a wholly-owned limited liability enterprise in Cambodia.

Upon signing the agreement, PMTI Energy will provide and sell a contracted capacity of 48,000 megawatt (MW) of electricity per annum to EDC’s network and EDC for 10 years, and the supply may be extended for an additional period.

PMTI Energy has been granted approval by the Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy to invest in the construction of a 10MW power per hour rice husk power plant in Battambang province, Cambodia.

“Hence, PMTI Energy would be venturing into a biomass power plant project by exploiting Cambodia’s abundance supply of rice husk waste as a reliable source of renewable energy for electricity power generation,” the company said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia.

It said the venture is in line with the group’s strategy of developing a portfolio of renewable energy or power plants in the region that is expected to contribute positively to Wah Seong Corp Group’s earnings.

Source: Yahoo News | September 5, 2014

Power Line Investment Approved

The Cambodian government has entered into a public-private partnership with a little-known company named ALEX Corporation Co Ltd to develop power lines from plants in Preah Sihanouk province to Phnom Penh, according to the Council of Ministers.

The private firm will invest $119.1 million in a build-operate-transfer agreement to construct and run the infrastructure before handing it over to the government at the end of a 29-year lease.

The 230-kilovolt power transmission lines will connect Preah Sihanouk, Takeo and Kampot provinces up with the capital.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said yesterday the project had been given the green light following a feasibility study completed by the China Heavy Machinery Company.

Siphan could not provide any more details on project partner ALEX corporation.

Prak Chan Reuon, director of the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Energy’s Preah Sihanouk provincial department, said he did not have details on the project. Welcoming the investment, Reuon said the lines could connect to the Cambodia Energy Limited run coal plant in Preah Sihanouk province.

Neither Electricite du Cambodge nor the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy could be reached for comment.

Source: Phnom Penh Post | October 28, 2013 | Hor Kimsay

FASMEC As SMEs Supporting Association

Do you want to complain about district officers bothering your business operations, complicated document requirements for importing your materials or exporting your products, or other obstacles facing your business? The Federation of Association for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC) is here to help resolve these business issues if they are members of this association.

FASMEC was started in 2010 with the support of the Ministry of Industry, Mines & Energy (MIME). Acting as a non-governmental and fully independent institution, FASMEC helps its members in bringing their concerns to the government through Government Private Sector Forum (G-PSF). It currently counts 15 business Associations and 300 enterprises as its members.

However, FASMEC membership is still small when compared with the number of SMEs in the country. It is very important for SMEs to join FASMEC in order to strengthen themselves for the upcoming competition brought by the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

It’s not difficult to become a FASMEC member, says Okhna Te Taing Por, President and Co-founder of FASMEC. “All types and forms of business can be part of FASMEC, regardless of their sizes and operations,” he continues.

However, the registration requires business owners to pay USD 50, including the annual fee of about USD 100 dollars—depending on the size of the business. For micro enterprises, the annual membership fee is from USD 25 to USD 50 with free registration. That amount will cover office equipment and staffs’ support and to ensure the continuity of FASMEC.

Besides having their concerns heard by the government, FASMEC members can also benefit from other programs such as joining workshops and business fairs, and getting knowledge and information about other local, regional, and international businesses. FASMEC also provides necessary facilitation to deal with its members’ operational problems.

FASMEC also plans to make other programs available such as creating SMEs fairs and forums, developing an SME special economic zone, increasing SMEs capacity to access finance, and improving standardization.

In the two years FASMEC has been growing, it also experienced some challenges. According to Okhna Te Taing Por, lack of human resources to facilitate the on-going operation within the institution is a challenge in meeting the demands of FASMEC members. This is due mainly to the small financial packages available for the staff salaries and other office suppliers. However, Okhna Te Taing Por and other FASMEC board members have provided dedicated support.

“I am not reluctant to pursue the mission of FASMEC, as I believe it will work well in the future,” says Okhna Te Taing Por.

In order to sustain the SME sector, FASMEC also calls for further friendly cooperation with related government agencies. FASMEC also seeks development partners who share the same vision to provide technical expertise and some funding support to ease the on-going operational costs.

Presently, FASMEC has three branches in Sihanuok Ville, Kampong Thom, and Kampot. Membership consists of various businesses and associations across Cambodia, operating in sectors ranging from agriculture, manufacturing, handicrafts, trading, and services.

Source: Business Circle Magazine | April 10, 2013