Pteah Baitong : Acces to energy in Cambodia
3 regions covered in 2017
1 236 products sold in 2017
66 active vendors in 2017
An entrepreneurs network making access to energy easier for the poorest
Forty per cent of Cambodian households are not connected to the electricity grid. They can only access basic equipment: kerosene or battery-powered lamps, candles, and car or motorcycle batteries for charging cell phones or running ventilation fans and TVs.
These are cheap to buy, but very expensive to run as they have to be regularly renewed. They also have a worrying impact on health and the environment – kerosene lamps in particular give off toxic fumes and cause burns and fires. Lack of access to the grid therefore makes families even more vulnerable.
This is why, in 2014, Entrepreneurs du Monde created Pteah Baitong (Green Homes), a network for distributing solar-powered equipment for lighting and for re-charging small electrical appliances.
With innovative products, Pteah Baitong selected the last generation equipment. They maximize the energy efficiency and last in average three times more than the basic systems.
A distribution network in the heart of rural communities
Products are distributed by salaried sales staff and by micro-franchised retailers in rural areas where energy deprivation is at its worst. They are recruited, trained and given support throughout their time in this work.
To help with the cost of buying a lamp or a solar kit, families can access energy microcredit through a partnership between Pteah Baitong and two microfinance institutions – Chamroeun, created by Entrepreneurs du Monde in 2006, and Vision Fund. Pteah Baitong is also looking at innovative finance solutions, such as a “Pay-as-you-go” scheme, for its potential clients excluded from the classical funding systems.
Read the complete Pteah Baitong’s fact sheet
Pteah Baitong’s financial partners
In 2017, the programme benefited from the support of the French Development Agency, the Egis Foundation, and the international NGO People in Need. For 2018, Pteah Baitong is counting on renewed support from the French Development Agency. However, in order to develop its innovative projects and extend its activities into other areas, Pteah Baitong needs to find new means of support.
To sustain and support its development, Pteah Baitong is looking for new financial partners.
