PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has instructed the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Electricity of Cambodia and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to consider the possibility of canceling the electricity debt owed by the Ministry of National Defense more than $2 million dollars.

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s instruction is at the request of Minister Tea Banh Minister of National Defense Year from 2016 until 3 September 2021.

The reason for this debt is because the consumption of electricity is increasing every year in line with the development of the country and the defense sector, but the annual consumption of credit, the Ministry of Economy and Finance remains the same. In fact, before there were only 140 units, now there are up to 240 units. This is according to the statement of Samdech Tea Banh.

In addition, Samdech Picheay Sena also requested the additional budget for the annual electricity consumption of the Ministry of National Defense at the request of the unit in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

In response to the request of Samdech Tea Banh during the inauguration ceremony of the administrative building and meeting hall of the Ministry of National Defense this morning, 29 December 2021, PM Hun Sen stated, "Let EDC check ability to write off the debt of the Ministry of National Defense more than 9 billion riels, equivalent to more than 2 million dollars, whether it can be written off completely or partially or 70 percent of the remaining, the Ministry of Economy and Finance. I have not ordered yet. I will issue an order to increase the budget for electricity consumption of the Ministry of National Defense every year [...] I would also like to return to all units throughout the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to save on electricity consumption."

The Prime Minister says saving electricity is part of the fight against waste, and all units are able to save this electricity.

^{PHOTO: EAC NEWS}