Supply of primary energy in Cambodia in 2007 amounted 5.163 million ton COE (crude oil equivalent), in which domestic woody biomass, consisted of firewood, charcoal and rice straw, was 3.62 million ton COE, sharing 70.3% of the primary energy. Firewood shares most of the woody biomass and used as fuel for cooking in most of the households. On the other hand, all oil products – gasoline for automobiles, diesel oil for power generation, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for home and general use – are being imported.

Agriculture is the biggest key industry of Cambodia. Agricultural population shares 70% of Cambodia’s total population of 14.5 million. As for the harvest in 2003, rice amounted to 4.71 million ton, cassava 0.33 million ton, corn 0.32 million ton, and sugarcane 0.17 million ton, respectively. Nearly 1.38 million ton of waste agricultural products such as rice chaff and bagasse (squeezed lee of sugarcane) are generated every year, and this is roughly 25 % in proportion to the amount of harvest. This waste is now focused on as a new resource for biomass energy.

Meantime the European Council has been promoting popularization of co-generation in ASEAN countries. COGEN3-PLAN that supports the popularization of co-generation has made an assessment of biomass power plant to be constructed at a rice mill near Puhnon Peng. The assessment has shown that the plant could supply enough amounts of electricity and heat, which could replace use of light oil, and that the total investment would be 3.34 million euro.

As for firewood cooking stoves used at general homes, it is estimated possible to improve their performance by some modification to airflow and heat-insulation thereby raising burning efficiency. Fairly 30% of energy saving is expected. By introducing improved firewood cooking stoves, the country will be able to save 0.563 million ton COE of energy, since energy consumption by burning firewood is quite large in this country. Like the examples mentioned above, Cambodia is now keenly making assessment on various projects for power generation as well as energy saving, in view of utilizing the country’s rich biomass resources.

Table  Supply of Primary Energy in Cambodia (2007, million ton COE)

Source	Oil Products	Hydro-Electric	Biomass Energy	Total
Domestic Supply	0	0.004	3.620	3.624
Imported Supply	1.525	0	0	1.525
Total	1.525	0.004	3.620	5.149

 

Fig.  Supply of Primary Energy in Cambodia (2007)

 

Fig.  Harvest of Different Crops in Cambodia (2003)

 

Fig.  Cambodia Located in the South of Indochina

 

Source:
1) Website of IEA (Int. Energy Agency): http://www.iea.org/
2) Website of ASEAN-JAPAN FAPP (Farmer’s Partnership Project): http://www.asean-japan-farmersinfo.org/japan
3) “CDM Country Guide for Cambodia”, issued by IGES (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies)
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