Energy-efficiency pilot for ice factories and hotels
Energy audits and up to US$50,000 per project help Cambodian ice-making factories and hotels invest in energy-saving upgrades through an energy service company.
The pilot helps you identify and implement energy-saving improvements through an energy service company (ESCO), which guarantees a specified level of energy savings over a contracted period. CAPRED pays all energy-audit costs and provides technical and legal support for a detailed, investment-grade audit and negotiating the energy savings performance contract.
Each investment project must be at least US$75,000. CAPRED can provide a grant of up to US$50,000 to bring the investment payback period to four years. Under the shared-savings model, the grant goes to the ESCO. Under the guaranteed-savings model, it goes to the facility owner. The grant agreement is based on outputs: CAPRED contracts with the ESCO under shared savings, and with the ESCO and/or facility owner under guaranteed savings. Investment and contract arrangements are developed through the audit and consultation process.
CAPRED selects five project owners for the audit stage. After the audit and consultations, it selects pilot projects for their energy savings and likelihood of successful implementation. Selection for an audit therefore precedes selection for the investment demonstration.
Eligibility
Your proposed facility must meet these conditions:
- Your company is registered in Cambodia and operates an ice-making factory or hotel there. The facility has operated for at least three years.
- You own the land and facilities, or have a lease term of at least five years.
- The facility spends more than US$8,000 a month on electricity and uses energy-intensive equipment or processes, such as cooling systems, air compressors, boilers or heavy machinery.
- You allow an energy audit and commit to improving energy efficiency and sustainability. You commit to gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) in business management, and agree to work with CAPRED on assessing improvements and providing related staff training. The audit checks your eligibility declarations; only qualified applications progress.
Women-led businesses and facilities committed to sustainability and GEDSI are prioritised. Applicants must demonstrate integrity and high ethical standards, respect cultural, gender, religious, racial, national and age differences, treat people fairly, and uphold GEDSI sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
You must comply with DFAT’s Child Protection Code of Conduct and Policy. This means protecting children, managing and monitoring risks, and complying with relevant Australian and/or local law. Suspected, alleged or known child exploitation, abuse or harm related to DFAT business must be reported immediately, within 24 hours, to childprotection@dfat.gov.au. Non-compliance may lead to suspension or termination of an agreement.
The policy’s organisational standards depend on contact with children: no anticipated contact requires no Child Protection Standards; incidental or minimal contact requires Essential Standards; direct, sustained or significant contact requires Comprehensive Standards. These standards sit alongside the policy’s principles and reporting duties. Essential Standards include documented protection procedures and a staff code, safe reporting mechanisms, annual risk-assessment review and relevant staff training, and safe recruitment screening. Screening may use reference checks, police or working-with-children checks, locally appropriate alternatives or, where these are not feasible, a self-declaration.
Small locally based organisations with direct, sustained or significant child contact may implement Essential Standards first while following a documented, monitored action plan towards Comprehensive Standards. The reasonable timeframe depends on capacity, risk and context and may be six to eighteen months. Partners unable to meet the standards within the required timeframe need DFAT delegate approval with the risks and mitigation plan detailed.
How to apply
- Status
- closes 31 Dec 2026
- Closes
- Round restrictions
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- For Cambodia-based ice-making factories and hotels meeting the facility criteria.
Complete the expression-of-interest application form, including the facility-owner name and signature, and attach a copy of the previous year’s electricity bill. Submit it by the end of 31 December 2026 to procurement@capred.org, copying vergenylundy.song@capred.org and Mola.tin@capred.org. You can also submit a hard copy to CAPRED at the 17th Floor, GIA Tower, Koh Pich, Sopheak Mongkol Road, Phnom Penh.
CAPRED reviews applications on a rolling basis. Selected facility owners proceed to an energy audit, then consultations with potential ESCOs. CAPRED chooses the pilot demonstrations after assessing the audit findings and implementation potential. Questions about the call can be sent to procurement@capred.org.