Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lending Scheme to Bring Solar to Cambodia’s Poor

A business in Cambodia’s Kandal province aims to provide loans and solar equipment in one location. (Photo: Kamworks)
March 8, 2010
By SIMON MARKS
The New York Times

With access to solar-powered energy products for Cambodia’s rural poor extremely limited, the solar energy company Kamworks and the Cambodia Mutual Savings and Credit Network are partnering to provide low-interest loans to customers hoping to outfit their homes with solar panels, while Kamworks will provide and install the equipment.
Directors at the two companies said the scheme — the first of its kind in Cambodia — will help the country’s rural poor gain access to renewable energy.
“You have to say the investment for solar-powered technology is higher initially than fossil fuels,” said Jeroen Verschelling, a director at Kamworks. “Even though there is a payback time of less than one year, people still find it very hard to make the investment.”
Posted by

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)