Environment and natural resources policy and administration
Environmental impact assessments
Government orders $500,000 fines, relocation, for company polluting Sangke river
After waste from a Battambang-based industrial company polluted the Sangke river, the Environment Ministry imposed fines of around half a million dollars and order the company to relocate 10 kilometers away in a letter issued Thursday. ...
Sovann Sreypich and Runn Sreydeth
https://cambojanews.com/government-orders-500000-fines-relocation-for-company-polluting-sangke-river/
MRC makes ‘historic breakthrough’ on hydropower and environment after years of talks
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced Tuesday the approval of a “milestone” document revising preliminary design guidance for hydropower projects and separate new guidelines on cross-border environmental impact assessments. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501162894/mrc-makes-historic-breakthrough-on-hydropower-and-environment-after-years-of-talks/
NGO wants Koh Kong Krao study made public
A petition requesting the report of a study on the Koh Kong Krao area and progress made in designating the area as a national marine park to be made public was submitted by the Mother Nature Movement to the Ministry of Environment. ...
Torn Vibol
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501139062/ngo-wants-koh-kong-krao-study-made-public/
Cambodia studies impacts of undersea fiber optic cables
The Kingdom is studying the environmental impacts from the construction of undersea fiber optic cables connecting Hong Kong to Preah Sihanouk province at a distance of over 300km. ...
Lay Samean
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-studies-impacts-undersea-fiber-optic-cables
Mondulkiri gold mine gets go ahead despite environmental risks
Fears that history may repeat itself and lead to yet more contamination of Cambodia’s rivers has been offset by the estimated $40 million the government will receive annually from Renaissance Minerals. ...
Phoung Vantha
https://cambodianess.com/article/mondulkiri-gold-mine-gets-go-ahead-despite-environmental-risks
CSOs, communities request EIAs
Civil society organisations (CSOs) and communities have urged the government and relevant institutions to make Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) public, but officials say they are required to follow the policies of confidentiality of private firms. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/csos-communities-request-eias
All clear for construction of 700MW coal plant
A 700 MW coal-fired power plant in Preah Sihanouk province is set to begin construction soon, as authorities announce they have completed an environmental and social impact review. The $1.3 billion project is developed by Cambodia International Investment Development Group Co Ltd (CIIDG), in coordination ...
Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/all-clear-construction-700mw-coal-plant
Monks reveal Sangke threat
The Battambang provincial governor has ordered the authorities to close sewers in the Sangke River after monks posted a video showing toxic wastewater flowing into it and allegedly affecting nearby residents’ health. ...
Khorn Savi
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/monks-reveal-sangke-threat
Stakeholders visiting dam call Lao Hydro developer to share data
Cambodian, Thai and Vietnamese stakeholders have urged Xayaburi hydropower developer to share information on its hydropower plant in northern Laos, Mekong River Commission said. ...
Taing Vida
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50693643/stakeholders-visiting-dam-call-lao-hydro-developer-to-share-data
Countries urge Laos to conduct dam impact studies
Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam yesterday reiterated concerns over Laos’ proposed Luang Prabang hydropower dam project and urged the country to conduct more studies on potential environmental and social impacts. The proposed project would be built in Houygno village in the province, approximately 25 kilometres from ...
Pech Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50687612/countries-urge-laos-to-conduct-dam-impact-studies
Japan gov’t group signs agreement for metal mine in Kampong Speu province
Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem signed another memorandum of agreement on Thursday with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (Jogmec) to study and explore a metal mine in Kampong Speu province. Ministry of Mines and Energy spokesman Yos Monirath told The Post ...
Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/japan-govt-group-signs-agreement-metal-mine-kampong-speu-province
Japanese mining firm granted copper exploration licence
Japanese mining company Nittetsu Mining (Cambodia) Ltd on April 25 obtained a three-year copper exploration licence for Stung Treng province, Ministry of Mines and Energy spokesman Yos Monirath said. The firm is set to begin exploration early next year and is currently conducting an environmental ...
Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/japanese-mining-firm-granted-copper-exploration-licence
Work on PP railway line to start this year
Plans to build a 19km-long railway along six roads in Phnom Penh will begin this year. The line is set to contribute to the capital’s urbanisation while reducing traffic congestion. The Ministry of Environment said on its Facebook page on Monday that its secretary of ...
Khorn Savi
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/work-pp-railway-line-start-year
Ministry asked about Mekong plan
A member of the Supreme Consultation Forum told The Post on Thursday that he had questioned the Ministry of Mines and Energy over its position regarding a proposed project to develop a sizeable stretch of the Mekong River. ...
Ry Sochan
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-asked-about-mekong-plan
Impact study on river bank ‘development’ begins
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology said on Tuesday it is conducting an environmental impact study after it received a proposal from Try Pheap Engineering & Construction Co Ltd to dredge the Mekong River and use the sand to develop the river bank. ...
Khorn Savi
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/impact-study-river-bank-development-begins
Suvannaphum SEZ gets nod from Ministry of Environment
The Ministry of Environment on Wednesday approved the environmental impact assessment for a new special economic zone in Kandal province. Plans to build Suvannaphum SEZ, which will be located 46 kilometres away from Phnom Penh, can continue after the EIA for the project was approved ...
Chea Vannak
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50589334/suvannaphum-sez-gets-nod-from-ministry-of-environment/
NGOs want environmental impact report access
Civil society organisations dealing with environmental issues yesterday urged the Environment Ministry to disclose environmental impact assessment reports due to a lack of public information on whether or not companies comply with their reports after development projects have been approved. In a workshop on “Promoting Environmental ...
Pech Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50581980/ngos-want-environmental-impact-report-access/
Laos dam impact assessment ‘plagiarized’
Parts of an environmental impact assessment for the controversial Pak Lay dam in Laos was copied word for word from an assessment of the equally contentious Pak Beng dam, an advocacy group has claimed. A statement from Save the Mekong, released last week during a meeting ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/laos-dam-impact-assessment-plagiarized/4588398.html
Sanctuary concessions granted
The ministry’s report, which it shared on its Facebook page, said CRCK II Rubber Development and Bean Heack Investment Co Ltd have been respectively allowed to develop 7,121.78ha and 4,128.66ha within Boeung Pear Wildlife Sanctuary in Kampong Thom province. Following the granting of the concessions, the ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sanctuary-concessions-granted
Environment officials target special economic zones
An environment-monitoring working group from the Environment Ministry and the Council for the Development of Cambodia plans to meet with the owners of nearly 50 special economic zones across the country to promote standards on environmental protection and liquid waste management. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50105456/environment-officials-target-special-economic-zones/
Bid to ease hydro dam threats on the Mekong
Guidelines for mitigating the environmental impact and managing risks of hydropower dams in the Mekong River will be established at the end of March 2018 after discussion between Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Forty-five officials from the four countries have been meeting in Vientiane this week ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50104154/bid-to-ease-hydro-dam-threats-on-the-mekong/
EIA study for marine fish farm
The investor in Cambodia’s first large scale marine fish farm project in Preah Sihanouk province, that was approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) in April, has been asked to submit an environmental impact assessment study to the Ministry of Environment before ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5079194/eia-study-marine-fish-farm/
Fishing communities voice concerns over Laos dam as consultation ends
Fishing communities around the Tonle Sap Lake have called on Laos to scrap a controversial Mekong hydropower project after the consultation period for the project ended this week. ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/fishing-communities-voice-concerns-over-laos-dam-as-consultation-ends/3919796.html
Dam’s consultation process concludes
The consultation process for the controversial proposed Pak Beng dam in Laos concluded on Monday, allowing construction to begin even as local and international civil society groups continued to urge a delay until a forthcoming Mekong River Commission (MRC) environmental assessment is released later this ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dams-consultation-process-concludes