Ministry of Environment officials have determined that a factory belonging to Tong Kang (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. is polluting the air around it. According to a May 23 statement from the ministry, a furnace at the factory – which produces components or shoes – has adversely affected the air quality of around 40 families living nearby, in Kampong Speu province’s Kong Pisey district.

Inspectors found that the facility was using a furnace which burned crushed plastic resin as fuel, and had no smoke or air filtration systems in place.

The factory’s managers were also discovered to be storing plastic and resin waste inappropriately, including materials that were collected from domestic sources.

Officials conducted air pollution tests at two separate locations and found that pollutant levels exceeded standard limits.

The ministry has taken legal measures against the company for violating environmental regulations and causing air and odour pollution, citing Articles 156, 173, 176, 312, 313, and 314 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management.

Officials from the environment ministry carried out air quality tests in two separate locations and determined that the factory was polluting the air. Environment ministry

It has ordered the company to suspend operations of the furnace until filtration systems have been installed and approved by the ministry.

In addition, the company has been ordered to provide compensation for environmental and public health damages. It must rectify its procedures for storing raw materials, hazardous waste and all other types of solid waste, to ensure they meet legal standards.

The owners of the facility are also required to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment report and contribute to the annual Environmental Endowment Fund, as stipulated in an agreement signed on June 20, 2016.

“In the event that the company fails to comply with these measures, it will face being shut down,” warned the ministry.

During a visit to Kampong Speu province last week, Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth called on the public to report any industrial activities polluting the environment — such as factories discharging wastewater into natural water sources or polluting the air.

“We welcome investment, but it must be clean and sincere, with a commitment to protecting the environment. That’s the only kind of investment that can last. If a business pollutes, how long can they stay? Not long. Please, help us by reporting such cases,” he said.

The factory’s owners were also found to be storing waste inappropriately, including plastic from domestic sources, likely used as fuel for the furnace. Environment ministry