Japan signs deal to support Cambodia for low carbon growth

Japan signs deal to support Cambodia for low carbon growth

Xinhua / Global Times | 11 April 2014

The government of Japan on Friday signed a Low Carbon Growth Partnership agreement with Cambodia, aiming to assist the country to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

The deal was inked between Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Kumamaru Yuji and Cambodian Environment Minister Say Samal.

After the agreement, both countries would establish a joint committee to operate the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) for the Low Carbon Growth Partnership, said Say Samal.

He said under this mechanism, Japan would implement various projects that contributed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Cambodia including transferring Japan's energy-saving technologies and facilities.

"Through such projects, Japan will contribute not only to Cambodia's environment and economic growth, but also to international efforts to prevent global warming," he said.

The minister said some JCM projects have already been implemented in Cambodia such as the energy efficient water pumps using solar energy for the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority and power generation using rice husk-fired sterling engines.

"There are other potential projects in the pipeline such as biogas digester, sustainable transport, lighting, energy efficiency in building, and micro hydropower plants, which we should promote under this partnership," he said.

Kumamaru Yuji said the Japanese government had already conducted feasibility studies on some of the renewable energy projects in Cambodia. Under the agreement, Japan would be able to consider those projects to be implemented.

"In fact, many Japanese companies with high-level technologies have already contributed to low carbon growth in Cambodia. I hope that their technologies and experiences will be usefully utilized for JCM projects," he said.

Japan has so far signed the bilateral document to establish the JCM with 11 countries, namely Mongolia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Palau, and Cambodia.