The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) formulated a national energy sector policy in October 1994, its objectives being to provide a secure, reliable, environmentally safe, and sustainable energy supply from various forms, at reasonable and affordable price, in order to address the population needs as well as the economic development needs of the Kingdom. In this respect, it encourages the exploration and development of all national resources, which are socially and environmentally acceptable to the national communities, and the efficient use of energy and energy conservation. The current policy statement on rural electrification by renewable energy is a reaffirmation of the earlier Policy, and an extension of the high commitment on the part of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) in its pursuit to reduce poverty, improve the standard of living, and foster economic development of its population, particularly in the rural areas, takes cognizance of the need to meet the basic needs of its marginalized rural people. Creating access to electricity infrastructure and services and reducing the high level of power tariff in rural areas is an integral part of this endeavour. In line with the National Energy Sector Policy of October 1994, as stated above, the RGC is promulgating a National Policy on Rural Electrification by Renewable Energy, which is an expression of RGC’s high commitment in facilitating this process.

The Royal Government of Cambodia recognizes that the Rural Electrification by Renewable Energy Policy is an instrument that is in consonance with an overall integrated rural development framework that includes policies on agriculture, industry, water, health, education, infrastructure, communications, environment, etc. It is also an instrument that upholds the RGC’s principle of decentralization in increasing provision of public services, the ultimate goal being the poverty reduction of the rural population.
Furthermore, the Rural Electrification by Renewable Energy Policy is an integral part of the Government’s overall agenda for the Energy Sector including Rural Electrification and the Government’s rural development plan. The RGC recognizes that supply of modern energy sources for community applications like biomass, biogas, small hydro, wind, solar and liquefied petroleum gas are also critical in the rural areas, and intends to address this issue in a separate policy statement to be developed in due course.

The Rural Electrification by Renewable Energy Policy intends to lay down the policy, objectives, and guidelines for developing the requisite infrastructure for providing electricity services using renewable energy technologies in rural areas.