PHNOM PENH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Thursday that it has approved a 52.72-million-U.S.-dollar loan for the Grid Expansion Project in Cambodia. The project will strengthen the country's transmission network to integrate more renewable energy into the national grid and help meet rising electricity demand with cleaner, locally generated power, the ADB said in a news release. ADB country director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma said reliable and affordable electricity is the backbone of Cambodia's growth story. "By bringing more renewable energy into the grid, Cambodia can power opportunities for its people while protecting the environment for generations to come," Varma added. Aligned with Cambodia's Power Development Master Plan (2022-2040) and the National Energy Efficiency Policy (2022-2030), the project will help reduce transmission losses and enhance energy security, it added.