A 246-megawatt Stung Tatay Hydropower plant owned by China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) started generating electricity on Wednesday, Chinese media reported yesterday.

CHMC invested $540 million into the hydropower plant, located in Koh Kong province, after receiving a 40-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement from the Cambodian government in 2010. It marks the second Chinese-owned hydropower plant in Koh Kong province to start producing power this year.

In February, China Huadian Corp, which has also been granted a 35-year BOT licence, commenced producing electricity at its $500 million, 338-megawatt plant located on Lower Russei Chrum River.

According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Chinese firms have invested $1.6 billion to construct six hydroelectric dams in Cambodia, with a total capacity of 928 megawatts. All are now operational.