Kamchay Dam: Kampot's Hydropower Station

The dam in numbers

The station sits on the Kamchay river, a tributary of the Prek Teuk Sap river, in southern Cambodia. Construction finished in 2011.

• Installed capacity: 193 megawatts
• Output: roughly 900 million kilowatt-hours a year
• Reservoir: 110 million cubic metres of water
• Distance from Kampot: about 10 km

Power from the plant supplies the surrounding area, Kampot city included.

Who built it and how it was paid for

The builder was China Guodian Corporation, a Chinese state-owned company. Financing came as a loan from the Chinese government, and the work was done by Chinese engineers and labourers. Kamchay is one of several Cambodian infrastructure projects completed with Chinese help in recent years.

The controversy

The project was contested while it was being built. Rising water flooded several villages, and more than 1,000 families had to be relocated. Critics also worried about damage to the river's ecosystem and the loss of fish habitat.

To soften that last effect, the dam includes a fish ladder. It lets fish move upstream and downstream past the structure, and it is meant to protect habitat and keep the river's ecological balance.

What it means for Kampot

Supporters point to a more dependable electricity supply for the town and its surroundings, which in turn helps farming, tourism and other local industries. The dam also created jobs, first during construction and later in operation and maintenance. How those gains weigh against the displacement and environmental costs is still debated.

Visiting tips

It is a working power station, so treat it as a short stop rather than a full-day destination. Because it lies roughly 10 km from town, plan transport in advance, and use the map link below to find the exact spot.