Phnom Meas Lime and Powder Enterprise in Kampot province has temporarily suspended rock blasting activities after authorities found that they used improper techniques, which injured four people and damaged nearby homes. This incident occurred on October 14, 2024, in Banteay Meas district.
District police chief Nak Dim told CamboJA News that the local authorities were working on the case. He confirmed the number of casualties, adding that six houses were affected.
“The authorities have always advised the team and foremen at the site, but that day, they probably used wrong techniques,” Dim said.
The company compensated the victims who received medical treatment and repaired the damaged houses after it was informed of the incident, he added.
Although the authorities temporarily suspended the mining company’s operations, pending investigation, factory production continued as normal.
“[The authorities] have temporarily suspended blasting activities, but production flow was normal,” Dim said.
Phnom Meas Lime and Powder Enterprise was registered with the Ministry of Commerce in 2017. The company is owned by a person by the name of Ly Kimvun.
Seng Puth, Chrak Khlai village chief, told CamboJA News that it was the first time residents were harmed by the rock blasting activity.
He said the rocks fell on people’s homes which were located 300 meters from the foot of the mountain.
When CamboJA News contacted the company’s number on its Facebook page, the person who picked up the phone mentioned that he was a representative of one of the shareholders.
“Our company has a license and has been operating for almost seven years,” said the man who asked not to be named.
Regarding the incident, he said the company paid compensation to the victims. Those who were seriously injured went to Phnom Penh for treatment. The company will repair the houses which were damaged.
The relevant ministries have inspected the site and asked the company to temporarily suspend rock blasting and wait for instructions from the relevant parties. The man said the ministries checked the site and often instructed the company to make changes.
Resident Khieu Sarith of Chrak Khlai village, Touk Meas Khang Lech commune, told CamboJA News that four villagers were seriously injured and were being treated at a hospital.
According to him, the company has not paid any compensation to the injured people as it is waiting for them to return home after receiving treatment.
Sarith said while rock blasting activities were temporarily suspended, the authorities did not close the entire operation.
“The ministry regularly comes to inspect, and because of this, the authorities ordered the suspension of the quarry for a while until the company solves the problem,” he commented.
The villagers always request the authorities to increase their vigilance and prevent accidents, Sarith said, adding that the accident probably happened due to a technical error related to the company’s negligence.
“This is a lesson for the company to be more careful and to avoid the same problem from recurring, and having to compensate the victims.”
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Energy Ung Dipola declined to comment, stating that he was busy with meetings, while Som Vichet, director of Kampot Provincial Department of Mines and Energy, could not be reached for comment.
Yun Phally, provincial coordinator of rights group ADHOC, said the company should follow the right technique and provide a safe place for the people. The relevant departments need to review the blasting methods to see if it is in accordance with the standards so as not to affect the people in the area.
“Development and investment of mountain [quarries] mean that a study must be done on how many families are located near the mountain and the size of the quarry to ascertain the impact on the people in the area,” he said.
Heng Kimhong, president of Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), told CamboJA News that the company must take responsibility, resolve it legally and provide compensation to the victims if they were negligent.
The authorities must send the case to the relevant officials to investigate and prevent the problem from happening again.
“The company must take responsibility for the damage and other liabilities if they are found guilty of a criminal offense, because such negligence is very dangerous and cannot be forgiven,” said Kimhong.
