Ministries and other national bodies
Ministry of Mines and Energy
Koh Kong fishermen resume anti-sand-dredging campaign
As about 100 fishermen in Koh Kong province on Wednesday resumed their monthslong campaign against a company they accuse of illegal sand dredging, an environmental NGO claimed the firm was now hiring locals as security guards in an attempt to divide the community. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/koh-kong-fishermen-resume-anti-sand-dredging-campaign-91551/
Gov’t revenue from mining industry soars
The Ministry of Mines and Energy collected approximately $3.5 million in non-tax revenue from the extraction industry during the first six months of the year—about 92 percent of what it collected from the sector in all of 2014, ministry spokesman Meng Saktheara said Tuesday. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/govt-revenue-from-mining-industry-soars-90768/
Lawmaker, NGO want gov’t to probe dredging
As an environmental NGO held a press conference in Phnom Penh on Monday to present evidence against a company it accuses of illegally extracting sand from an estuary in Koh Kong province, opposition lawmaker Son Chhay called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to order an ...
Aun Pheap and Chris Mueller
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/lawmaker-ngo-want-govt-to-investigate-sand-dredging-90588/
After effigy burning, governor raises prospect of arrests
After about 100 villagers on Sunday burned effigies of officials involved in a land dispute in Kompong Chhnang province that has dragged on for nearly a decade, the provincial governor said the protest was “contrary to the law” and gave authorities a reason to arrest ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/after-effigy-burning-governor-raises-prospect-of-arrests-90429/
Koh Kong sand-dredging protests heat up
Concerned Koh Kong residents, joined by environmental activists from the campaign group Mother Nature, began an ambitious protest last weekend in the province’s Andong Teuk commune. ...
Jack Laurenson and Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13808//
Activists board dredging barges in Koh Kong
About 80 villagers and activists in Koh Kong province on Monday boarded and attempted to tow away five sand-dredging barges as part of their ongoing campaign against two firms they accuse of polluting a local waterway and causing riverbank collapses, activists and officials said. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/activists-board-dredging-barges-in-koh-kong-89643/
Ministry awards sand dredging lots to 3 firms
The Mines and Energy Ministry on Thursday announced the winners of its public auction to award four sand dredging licenses along a stretch of the Mekong River where there is a buildup of silt. ...
Ouch Sony
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-awards-sand-dredging-lots-to-3-firms-89313/
Surge in electricity bills sparks confusion
Confused citizens in coastal communities like Kampot and Sihanoukville are complaining about surging electricity bills, which they say are not linked to higher usage or even rises in per unit cost. ...
Jack Laurenson
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13327/surge-in-electricity-bills-sparks-confusion/
Minister alleges effort to sully EdC’s reputation
Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem on Monday hit back at detractors following a spike in energy prices, claiming the criticism was an attempt to destroy the credibility of Electricite du Cambodge (EdC). ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/minister-alleges-effort-to-sully-edcs-reputation-88156/
EDC slows roll on discount
State energy provider Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) has announced plans to temporarily halt the installation of new connections under its energy discount initiative for garment workers and low-income students in Phnom Penh, a program union leaders have largely praised as effective. ...
Sarah Taguiam and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/edc-slows-roll-discount
New mining law could herald gold rush
Meng Saktheara wants to take some of the risk out of one of the riskiest businesses in Cambodia – commercial gold mining. As Indian mining giant Mesco Gold seeks a permit to build and operate the country’s first commercial gold mine in Ratanakkiri province, Mr. ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/12941/new-mining-law-could-herald-gold-rush/
Gov’t sweetens deal for Sesan Dam families
As work moves ahead on the controversial Lower Sesan 2 dam in Stung Treng province, the Ministry of Mines and Energy met Tuesday with representatives of more than 250 families still refusing to make way for the dam’s reservoir. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-sweetens-deal-for-sesan-dam-families-86997/
Provisional sand dredging licenses awarded
The Ministry of Mines and Energy on Friday announced the provisional winners of its public auction to award four licenses to dredge sand on a stretch of the Mekong River clogged by a build-up of silt, which is obstructing the passage of vessels through the ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/provisional-sand-dredging-licenses-awarded-85500/
Powering Cambodia’s Economy
According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the greatest obstacle to foreign investment in the Cambodian economy is the country’s deep energy shortfall. According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, the situation has not improved much in more than a decade, with only ...
Paul Pryce
http://bit.ly/1cHIn21
Ministry to review oil company’s plans
The company that has been given production rights over a 5,500-square-km area off the coast of Sihanoukville known as Block D has been given 10 days to submit their exploration plans to be reviewed by the Mines and Energy Ministry, a spokesman said Thursday. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/ministry-to-review-oil-companys-plans-85061/
Cambodian activists, villagers petition lawmakers over Koh Kong sand dredging
A group of activists and villagers from southwestern Cambodia’s Koh Kong province petitioned outside the country’s parliament Thursday, calling on lawmakers to intervene against a sand dredging company they say is operating in the area without a license. ...
RFA Khmer News Staff
http://bit.ly/1KbKEOD
Green group, Cambodian youth petition government to stop sand dredging
An environmental nongovernmental organization and young Cambodians opposed to sand dredging will petition the country’s parliament and relevant ministries to stop companies from digging up sand in a southwestern province, activists said. ...
RFA Khmer News Staff
http://bit.ly/1JsDowV
Mines Ministry issues new dredging licences
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has announced that it will grant two sand dredging licences around Phnom Penh Port, just days after declaring that no new licences would be issued until economic impact assessments had been carried out. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mines-ministry-issues-new-dredging-licences
Fishermen claim victory against sand dredgers
An environmental activist and a fisherman said Sunday that about 70 residents of Koh Kong province had worked together over the past few days to chase away sand-dredging barges they accused of operating illegally around Koh Kapi island and damaging vital fishing grounds. ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/fishermen-claim-victory-against-sand-dredgers-81942/
Pestech gets RM1.59bil concession in Cambodia
Power system engineering and technical solutions provider Pestech International Bhd has become a concession owner in Cambodia after it secures a project worth RM1.59bil. ...
Ng Bei Shan
http://bit.ly/1DncSF9
Sand dredgers freed in capital, jailed in Kandal
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Saturday fined and released 10 workers swept up in a crackdown on illegal sand dredging operations by the Ministry of Mines and Energy last week. ...
Ben Sokhean and Alex Consiglio
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sand-dredgers-freed-in-capital-jailed-in-kandal-81451/
Cambodia won’t renew dredging licenses amid industry study: ministry official
Authorities will not renew operating licenses for sand-dredging companies in Cambodia if impact studies on the industry are not completed by the time the licenses expire at year-end, a ministry official said Friday. ...
RFA Khmer News Staff
http://bit.ly/1Fvo7ux
Eleven arrested over illegal Sand dredging
Three owners of sand dredging companies were among 11 people arrested Thursday by military police—working in tandem with the Ministry of Mines and Energy—for operating without a proper license, according to a spokesman for the ministry. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/eleven-arrested-over-illegal-sand-dredging-81320/
Cambodia orders temporary halt to sand dredging
Cambodia has ordered a temporary halt to all sand dredging operations in the country’s rivers and lakes in order to study the environment and social impact of a practice that has caused deadly river bank collapse incidents. ...
Samean Yun
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/cambodia-dredging-03252015170821.html