Cambodia accelerates renewable push amid global energy crisis

Cambodia is accelerating renewable projects and tariff reforms to curb fuel costs and diversify supply, targeting a rise in clean energy's share of its power mix from 60 to 70 percent by 2030.

Already 60 percent of Cambodia's energy comes from renewable sources such as hydro power, solar and wind. The country aims to increase that to 70 percent by 2030.

The 100-MW National Solar Park in central Cambodia's Kampong Chhnang province has already been connected to the national grid and became fully operational in late 2024.

Officials of the project's lender the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said renewable grids are paving the way for the country's electric mobility.

"If your grid is renewable, that provides you the backbone for the next step, which is e-mobility. What you do see in many countries is you may have the e-vehicles, but then the charging is reliant on non-renewable sources. Here, we're actually walking that pathway of renewable on the grid and then into vehicles as well," said Yasmin Siddiqi, ADB's Country Director for Cambodia.

As part of a sweeping initiative to boost renewable energy adoption and mitigate the high cost of electricity and imported fossil fuels, the Cambodian government has eliminated or significantly reduced import tariffs on solar power systems and related green energy equipment. The new tariff rates took effect on April 1, 2026.

China Energy International Group has built several renewable energy projects in Cambodia. Officials of the Chinese company said the Cambodian government's new policies will boost renewable energy development and promote energy diversification.

"The local government has canceled all the import tariffs about the solar power and the best battery energy storage from other countries. So, this kind of policy will give a big push for the development of the renewable energy," said Jason Xu, president director of the Cambodia Branch of China Energy International Group.

Experts said the current fuel crisis has created a positive momentum for the renewable energy development in Cambodia.

"I think the crisis creates a positive momentum for acceleration of renewable energy. Even our consumer behavior also changed, which is very, very powerful," said Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly Advisory Council.

Cambodia accelerates renewable push amid global energy crisis

The Duku Highway in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will soon reopen to traffic after an annual winter closure.

Highway operators are close to finishing the removal of meters-deep snow from the road, and de-icing is expected to begin Thursday in the Yuximolegai Tunnel, where operations on both ends of the highway will conclude.

The 561-kilometer Duku Highway connects Dushanzi in the north of Xinjiang and Kuqa City in the south. One-third of the highway runs along cliffs, and one-fifth of it lies within permafrost zones in high mountains.

Snow clearing operations on the road face numerous challenges, including harsh weather conditions, melt-freeze crust formation, and risks of machinery damage, falls from cliffs, and avalanche.

These difficulties have limited the speed of snow removal down to one kilometer per day.

In order to ensure safety, the edges of road and cliffs have been clearly marked to prevent falling and personnel have been deployed to observe snowcaps.

Considered one of China's most scenic roads, the Duku Highway runs through various landscapes including canyons, glaciers, lakes and grasslands. It serves not only as a golden pathway to prosperity for local people, but also a popular tourist attraction in summer.

The highway is temporarily closed every October due to increased snowfall and road icing, and often reopens in June the next year.

China's Duku Highway to resume traffic after eight-month winter closure