PHNOM PENH, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The China-built Battambang Water Supply System in northwest Cambodia's Battambang province was inaugurated on Thursday, marking a major upgrade to expand clean water access and meet growing demand in the area.
The project was co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union (EU) and the Royal Government of Cambodia, with a total contract value of about 31.77 million U.S. dollars, said a news release from the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.
It was undertaken by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Constructed from October 2022 to December 2025, the upgraded system comprised water intake facilities, a water treatment plant and a 94-kilometer distribution network, the news release said.
"The project strengthens the city's water supply infrastructure by more than doubling the capacity of the Battambang Water Utility and expanding connections to cover about 76 percent of the service area," the news release said.
Speaking at the inauguration, Cambodian Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hem Vanndy said the new system increased the production capacity of the Battambang Water Utility from 33,520 cubic meters per day to 83,520 cubic meters per day.
"This means households, traders, producers and businesses will have access to clean, safe, sustainable and affordable water to support their well-being and livelihoods," he said.
Yasmin Siddiqi, ADB country director for Cambodia, said the project delivered safe and reliable water services, improving public health and supporting local economic growth.
"Reliable water supply improves public health, saves time for households and supports local economic growth," she said.
"This achievement goes beyond infrastructure. It is an investment in people, in public health and in the city's future," AFD country director in Cambodia Sandrine Boucher said. ■