Danish marine fuel company Go4 Bunker Denmark yesterday launched the first company in Cambodia to supply ship fuel to  vessels traveling through Cambodia’s waters, according to officials.

The launch ceremony for the newly established Go4 Bunker Cambodia Co Ltd yesterday was presided over by Danish Princess Marie in Phnom Penh.

Chan Dararith, a member of the board of directors for Go4BC, said the company would supply fuel to ships crossing through Cambodia’s  waters. Each month, ships demanding  total supplies of 60,000  tonnes pass through Cambodian waters. Go4BC expects to supply 10,000 tonnes to these ships.

He said it is not yet known how much the total investment will be by Go4BC because the company’s officials are still figuring our how many ships would be interested in refueling in their Cambodian refueling station.

“I can tell you that there is no supply of ship fuel in Cambodia,” he said. “However, ships do cross Cambodian seas. Generally, these ships have to refill in Thailand or Singapore,” said Chan Dararith, adding “we will be the first to bring this service to Cambodia”.

Tommy Christensen, CEO of Go4BC, said the new business venture would bring a new industry, new educational opportunities and new jobs to Cambodia.

“The company would employ the about 100 employees in the next three years,” he said. “We have a commitment to assisting and educating Cambodians so they can become senior managers and play more important roles in negotiation in the oil and gas industries.”

“As a Danish company, we are not here to tap Cambodian resources. We are here to transfer knowledge, technology and education. In our core business, we expect to employ around 100 people over the next three years,” he added.

Mikael Winther, The Royal Danish Ambassador, said Go4’s work was an exciting project in Cambodia where Danish companies need good partners to develop businesses and this establishment would attract more Danish companies in the future.

“When you do business in Cambodia, you need to find a really good partner to make sure that you understand each other and you need to develop it together,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rann Reuy at [email protected]