The Philippine Star
PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) -- The government of Cambodia has so far granted mining concessional licenses to approximately 128 local and foreign entities to conduct mineral exploration in the country, according to an industry's report published on Friday.
Those firms have been licensed for mineral exploration, dredging and quarrying throughout Cambodia, said the report entitled "Current Trends for Mining-Related Social and Environmental Impact in Cambodia".
The report was compiled by the Extractive Industry Social and Environment Impact (EISEI) Network, which consists of a number of non-governmental organizations.
It said the 128 concessions are located in 18 provinces out of the country's 24 cities and provinces, covering more than 24,000 square kilometers, or approximately 13 percent of Cambodia's total land area of 181,035 square kilometers.
The investors in those projects come from Australia, the United States, South Korea, Vietnam, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, France besides Cambodia.
Mam Sambath, chairman of the EISEI said that EISEI has begun its work to compile research on existing mining licenses, concessions and mining-related activities throughout Cambodia since November, 2009.
"The report is to update the current status of Cambodia's mining sector and to provide interested stakeholders such as affected communities, government ministries, and private sector entities with comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of social and environmental conditions in areas potentially affected by mining activity," he said.
He said that the increasing demand of mineral resources from China, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand have been driving up mining exploration in this impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
"Cambodia's mining industry is not the only industry in the country. Currently, it has been transforming itself from a small scale local operation to a large scale internationalized one," he said.
Cambodia is believed to be rich in metallic mineral, gold ore, bauxites, titanium, copper, and offshore oil and gas.
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