Cambodia's Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy on Thursday launched a four-year project, aiming at promoting the development of biomass-fuelled renewable energy generation technologies in industrial sector, officials said.

The 5.6 million US dollar project will provide technical and partial financial support for the implementation of biomass-based renewable energy projects in five sectors: food processing, garment factory, brick kiln, rubber factory, and rice milling, the national project coordinator Chea Chan Thou said.

"Under the project, we will provide sustained transfer of efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly biomass- fuelled energy technologies to those sectors in order to reduce global environmental impact from greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem said at the launching ceremony that currently, energy demand is growing rapidly in industry sector; however, industrial development must take into account environmental protection, or the country will face serious consequences.

"The project is a great help for industries in saving production cost, improving product quality and productivity, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emission by transferring new appropriate biomass-based technologies for power generation," he said.

The project is technically and financially supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Global Environment Fund (GEF).