Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy, Kao Rao Dana, revealed on February 12 that the power infrastructure in the Cambodia-Thailand border region was severely damaged due to the previous cross-border attack by Thai forces. Preliminary estimates indicate direct economic losses exceeding US$5 million.
During the 2025 annual work summary and 2026 work deployment meeting of the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), Kao Rao Dana provided the media with a detailed account of the damage: approximately US$4 million in losses were attributed to the private sector, primarily involving relevant power partners and private power supply facilities; and approximately US$1 million in equipment losses were suffered by the Electricity Council of Cambodia (EDC). The combined total matches the preliminary estimated losses.
Kao Rao Dana emphasized that although the damage affected both the public and private sectors, in order to alleviate the burden on businesses and quickly restore border power supply capacity, the Cambodian government has decided to fully cover the losses through the national treasury. He pointed out that this measure fully demonstrates the Royal Government's high regard for national infrastructure security and economic stability, aiming to strengthen the resilience of the energy sector through government intervention and prevent private partners from falling into operational difficulties due to force majeure.
Regarding the issue of ensuring power supply in sensitive border areas, the Minister reiterated the government's humanitarian stance. He stated that relevant restoration work has now been fully launched. Although the situation was tense at one point, the government and the Electricite du Cambodia (EDC) have pledged to ensure a stable and uninterrupted power supply for refugees in security camps along the Cambodia-Thailand border; the EDC will strictly fulfill its supply contracts, prevent power outages in the area, and do its utmost to meet the daily life and basic humanitarian needs of refugees.
As of now, the restoration work on the border area's power system is progressing smoothly and is expected to be fully restored to pre-conflict levels in the near future.
