Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ministry plans issuance of mining licence for cement

Ministry plans issuance of mining licence for cement

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The headquarters of the Ministry of Mines and Energy in the capital’s Daun Penh district in 2022. Heng Chivoan

Ministry plans issuance of mining licence for cement

The Ministry of Mines and Energy plans to issue an exploration licence to a locally registered firm, which intends to assess the suitability of northern Kampot province as a source for the minerals used in cement production.

Ung Dipola, director-general for Mineral Resources, said the ministry had assessed the technical and financial capital of WH Resources, and believed it is capable of ascertaining whether mining would be feasible in the province.

“In November last year, the ministry announced the opening of a 155ha mining concession at the hilly Phnom Tvear Brambei and Phnom Chroy Kandal areas in Chhouk district’s Taken commune. This does not mean that the company will build a cement plant on the site – they may abandon production altogether, should their exploration show a lack of potential,” he said.

“The ministry will issue the exploration licence in the near future, although no date has been set for the first searches by the company,” he noted.

Dipola said the ministry’s decision to award the licence is based on a thorough assessment, which was completed on January 16.

After last year’s announcement that the mining concession would be opened, five companies came forward for application details. WH resources were the only one of the five to submit a completed application.

Seng Bunvirak, president of the Cambodia Investor Contractor and Architect Association, said he encouraged the establishment of more cement factories in the country as it would reduce imports. He suggested that clear environmental impact studies should be complete before such work goes ahead.

“Locally produced cement is of just as high quality as imported products, but the price is lower. All stakeholders in the construction sector want quality products at acceptable prices. This will drive the construction of high-quality modern buildings across the Kingdom,” he added.

According to Bunvirak, the current prices of imported construction materials remain high, despite a slight drop in global fuel prices.

The ministry said it had opened the mining concession in response to the growing need for cement, which has increased year-on-year, noting that current domestic cement production cannot meet demand.

At present, Cambodia’s five cement factories have a production capacity of just over 9 million tonnes per year, while the construction industry requires an estimated 14 tonnes per annum.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom