A WEATHER forecasting and meteorological warning centre being built at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district is slated for completion in early 2012, officials said yesterday.

Secretary of state at the Ministry, Sao Sereymonym, said that the US$7million project would be completed with funding by the Cambodian government.

He said 10 Cambodian officials had been sent to France and Germany to learn more about the study of meteorology and the use of sophisticated forecasting technology.

“We are proud … this is the first time in the history of Cambodia that we’ll have access to the modern technology necessary to monitor weather and collect meteorological data,” Sao Sereymony said.

The centre is set to have the capacity to gather information on rainfall, wind speed and other weather indicators over a 400-kilometre radius, he said.  

Technology would also be able to produce weather forecasts for the entire Kingdom, with a high degree of accuracy for up to one month in advance and moderate accuracy up to six months in advance, he added.

Chan Youttha, cabinet director for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, said yesterday: “We are very happy to have our own means of collecting meteorological data because previously we had to take data from neighbouring countries to make our own national forecasts.

“The forecasts will be useful in agriculture, aviation, and shipping because we can inform people in those sectors and they can make the necessary preparations,” he said.           

According to a January press release from German-based company Selex-Gematronik, the ministry signed a contract with Meteo France International, a branch of the French national weather service, for the supply and installation of one S-Band Doppler weather radar to be used at the centre.  

The project is being implemented in partnership with Selex-Gematronik.