1. In Sept. 2019, #Cambodia signed a deal with #Laos to purchase 2400 MW of power from 2 proposed #coal plants in Sekong Province. One of these, a huge $1.7 billion 1000 MW plant is to be developed by an unknown Singapore company and a Laos partner. https://thailand-construction.com/development-dilemma-how-did-coal-sneak-into-laos-energy-plans/

2. Evolution Power Investment Corporation (EPIC) is leading the development of this project. Established in 2018, the Singapore-based firm has a limited public profile. It has not been announced who will finance the project.

3. According to one observer, EPIC is "run out of a briefcase" in Singapore. One director was fined $150,000 in Dubai for failure to comply with financial legislation. He was previously a director at major #Chinese real estate firm Evergrande. https://twitter.com/geoff_p_wade/status/1268698575380176901

4. This will require extensive transmission infrastructure. Current plans include a 500kV transmission line directly through the heart of Prey Lang forest (shown in blue below). As with Cambodia's other high-voltage transmission, this would likely be built by Chinese contractors.

5. Connecting to these plants could further jeopardize the ongoing presence of international companies in Cambodia that have committed to moving towards using 100% renewable energy. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Cambodia-s-shift-to-coal-power-riles-global-brands