_{No. NS/RKT/1204/048}

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

Nation Religion King

Royal Decree On

On the Establishment of Rural Electrification Fund of the Kingdom of Cambodia

We,

"Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Borom Neath NORODOM SIHAMONI, Samanaphum Cheat Sasnare Rakhatakhatteya KhemararathReastr Puthiktrea thak rea Khemara reachanea Samohopheasak Kampuchea Ekareach RathBoranak Sante Sophak mongkolea Sereivibolea Khemara Srey Pi reastr Preah Chau

Krong Kampuchea Thipadey"

-      Seen the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia;

-      Seen the Royal Decree No. NS/RKT/0704/124 dated July 15, 2004 on the Appointment of  the Royal Government of Cambodia;

-      Seen the Royal Kram No. 02/NS/94 dated July 20, 1994 promulgating the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the Council of Ministers;

-      Seen the Royal Kram No. NS/RKM/0196/05 dated January 24, 1996 promulgating the Law on the Establishing of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy;

-      Seen the Royal Kram NS/RKM/0201/03 dated February 02, 2001 promulgating the Electricity Law of the Kingdom of Cambodia;

-      Seen the requests of the Samdech Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which  is received the approval from the plenary session of the council ministers meeting of 1st October 2004.

DECIDE

Article 1._

To create a fund named “Rural Electrification Fund” with the acronym “REF” to assist in the development of rural electrification in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Article 2._

REF shall be established as an autonomous non-profit public institution with an administrative, managerial, technical and financial autonomy under the laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Article 3._

The objectives for establishment of REF are:

1. To promote equitable rural electrification coverage by facilitating the population’s access to electricity at affordable price for economic, social and household uses,  thus contributing to poverty reduction.
2. To promote and encourage private sector to participate in providing sustainable rural electrification services; in particular the exploitation of and economic application of technically and commercially well proven new and renewable energy technologies.

Article 4._

The REF shall be managed by a REF Board.

The organization and functioning of the REF shall be defined by the Statute and Internal Rule, which shall be elaborated and decided by the REF Board.

The REF Board shall consist of the following members:

1. The Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy or his/her Representative, as Chairman;
2. The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance or his/her Representative, as vice-Chairman;
3. The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Rural Development or his/her Representative, as vice-Chairman;
4. A representative of the Council of Ministers, as Member;
5. A representative of the Ministry of Interior, as Member;
6. The Chairman of EAC or his/her Representative, as Member;
7. A representative nominated by the donors and agreed by the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, as Member;
8. A representative of the financial sector nominated by the Cambodia Bankers Association and agreed by the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, as Member;
9. A Representative nominated by firms involved in rural electrification development projects agreed by the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, as Member;
10. A representative nominated by non-governmental organizations or international organizations involved in rural electrification development projects and agreed by the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, as Member;
11. A representative of the rural consumers, as Member. In case there is no representative of the rural consumers yet, this representative can be a member of Khum or sangkat board,

REF Board members shall have a term of two (2) years and which upon the expiration may be renewed for only one more term for another two (2) years.

Article 5._

The sources of fund for REF are as follows:

1. Donations and grants whose sources and terms shall be acceptable to the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) and to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), and
2. Other sources from the government, which have the characteristics of being regular and sufficient for the implementation of policy and goal of rural electrification development.

Article 6._

The mandate of REF shall last until the goals on rural electrification set by RGC are achieved.