Beneath the surface of what appears to be a legal quarrel, the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is now taking a worrying turn. As historical arguments resurface and references to international law multiply, another, even more decisive issue is coming to the fore: control over the Gulf of Thailand’s energy resources.

On 10 April 2026, in the mountains of Koh Kong Province, a discreet yet historic ceremony marked the start of a construction project that could reshape Cambodia’s energy future. The first gigawatt‑scale pumped‑storage hydropower project in the country, Upper Tatay is also one of the most ambitious industrial bets in Southeast Asia.

According to a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the escalation of tensions in the Gulf region could cost Southeast Asia up to 2.3 percentage points of growth by 2027. For Cambodia, a country heavily reliant on energy imports, the risk of a sustained rise in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices is compounded by shocks to supply chains and remittances.

The French energy giant EDF is considering investing more than $1.2 billion in an 800-megawatt hydroelectric dam in Cambodia, an emblematic project of the strengthened economic ties between Paris and Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh, February 16, 2026 – Cambodia is accelerating its energy transition at a rapid pace. According to the annual report from the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), released on Thursday, the total installed electricity generation capacity climbed to 5,932 megawatts (MW) in 2025, a spectacular 14.4% increase from 5,183 MW in 2024.

On 7 October 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced the approval of USD 82.5 million in financing for the second phase of the Cambodia Energy Transition Sector Development Programme (ETSDP).

Cambodia's 900-megawatt electricity generation project, set to become the country's largest operational power plant by 2027, is expected...

The Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy has reaffirmed its pledge to maintain subsidized electricity tariffs for households, agriculture,

ABA Bank, Cambodia’s largest commercial bank and leading digital finance provider, entered a strategic partnership through a Memorandum...

The electric vehicle (EV) sector has been identified as a key contributor to environmental protection, public welfare improvement, economic

Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that the Royal Government had approved 23 projects to develop new energy sources with a total capacity...

We have all welcomed the recent rain with more excitement than usual. The recent period of prolonged extreme heat scorched the entire...

Cambodia is set to harness the power of wind energy with plans for the country's first wind farms in Mondulkiri and Kampot provinces.