Sihanoukville Diesel Power Plant - 5 MW Oil-Fired Facility in Cambodia

Sihanoukville Diesel is a small-scale diesel power plant located in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, with an installed capacity of 5 megawatts. Owned and operated by Electricité du Cambodge, the facility plays a role in meeting local electricity demand in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk. The plant uses oil as its primary fuel, a common choice for smaller, fast-response generation units in developing regions. Cambodia's power sector relies on a mix of hydropower, coal, and oil-fired plants, with diesel units often serving as peaking or backup capacity due to their flexibility and lower capital costs. As a diesel facility, Sihanoukville Diesel contributes to grid reliability but also has a higher carbon footprint per megawatt compared to natural gas or renewables. Its operation is subject to Cambodia's environmental regulations, which are evolving to address emissions and air quality concerns in urban areas.

The plant's oil-fired operation results in higher CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions per unit of electricity compared to cleaner alternatives. Located in Sihanoukville, a coastal city with growing industrial and tourism activity, the facility's emissions may contribute to local air quality concerns. Cambodia's regulatory framework for power plant emissions is less stringent than in developed economies, but the government is gradually adopting standards aligned with ASEAN guidelines.