Cambodia’s first publicly listed power infrastructure company is rolling out its transfer of technology initiatives – as well as lighting up the Kingdom.
Malaysian-owned Pestech (Cambodia) has for a decade been powering rural areas, nurturing local talent in the power industry and contributing to the growing domestic electricity sector.
“Since day one, Pestech has been committed to building up local talent and domestic technical know-how to promote independent operational activities in the company.
“More than 60 per cent of Pestech’s human resources are Cambodian nationals, including those involved in the design, engineering and accounts departments,” Pestech International group CEO Lim Pay Chuan told The Post.
Pestech’s technical team is able to operate independently in transmission line-related engineering capabilities, particularly pertaining to designing pylons, planning transmission line routes, conductor stringing and cross-river line engineering.
The company is currently involved in building around 850km of transmission lines and no less than five substation systems, including the key 500kV transmission system from Sihanoukville to Bekchan in Kandal province.
Some 515km of transmission line have already been completed.
“These projects are part of the overall national power grid development programme that aims to improve access to electricity for rural and urban requirements, including the much needed support of business and economic development through the enhancement of the living standards of the rural population in particular.
“A good example would be the bringing of reliable and stable power supply to Kampong Cham and Kratie provinces, where more business activities have since been established, including hotels, eateries and financial institutions,” Lim said.
Pestech was listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange in August, with the funds raised to be used for the ongoing projects and as working capital.
“The building up of reliable power infrastructure is the base on which to fuel the economic growth of Cambodia. Industrial and social development depend significantly on the availability of a stable power supply to generate sustainable growth.
“The power sector is playing an important role in this fast growing economy by providing the much needed infrastructure that underlies the social and economic growth of Cambodia by bringing electricity to fuel the growth,” Lim said.
Pestech has also run people-centric programmes to reach out to local communities.
“We have been consistently supporting the welfare of the communities where we work. We have provided complimentary medical camps and youth development programmes, and renovated schools.
“We have also taken part in Red Cross annual fundraising campaigns and other corporate social responsibility programmes in Cambodia,” Lim said.
The power infrastructure builder’s net assets have grown from around $400,000 in 2010 to some $14 million last year.
A robust and reliable power infrastructure is vital to fuel a country’s economic growth – particularly in the case of Cambodia where there is an ever-growing demand for electricity as urban households’ incomes rise and industries continue to advance.
“It is evidenced that the country is consuming increasing amounts of electricity in line with its stable GDP growth over the past decade.
“Pestech is committed as Cambodia’s first listed power infrastructure company to developing such an important sector and the local expertise to operate and maintain it,” Lim said.
