Factory Suspends Operations After Complaints Over Fumes
British American Tobacco (Cambodia) Co. (BAT), which produces the cigarette brand ARA, suspended operations at its re-drying plant in Kandal province’s Takhmao commune yesterday, in order to allow time to redesign its air filtration system following repeated complaints about fumes that were allegedly spewing from the factory’s kiln, officials said. The decision to cease operations for the remainder of the year came after a meeting yesterday between factory officials, representatives from the provincial office of the environment, the Ministry of Industry, and local governemnt officials to discuss claims by more than 100 families living near the factory that fumes were harming their health. … Ponlu Tola, head of the BAT factory’s corporate and regulatory affairs, said the factory had finished its work for the year, and a new air filtration system will be installed for the drying of next year’s tobacco crop. …
