PHNOM PENH, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian National Assembly (NA) has approved deals with two Chinese companies on Tuesday for construction of four hydro-electric dams in Koh Kong province, national media said on Thursday.

    The investment stands at more than 1 billion U.S. dollars in total, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily quoted Ith Praing, secretary of state at the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, as saying.

    "We will have enough electricity to use in the whole country by2014. All kinds of people, businessmen and investors, will be at ease after we have sufficient electricity," he said.

    NA approved a deal of 540 million U.S. dollars for two dams with China National Heavy Metal Machinery, and a deal of 495 million U.S. dollars for the other two dams with the Michelle Corporation, also a Chinese firm, he said.

    Construction should start in late 2009 or early 2010, and the power will be sold to the Cambodian government at handsome prices, he added.