The Ministry of Mines and Energy issued a new sand mining license on March 17 to the Samreth Bunthoeun Enterprise on the Sekong river in Stung Treng province, according to a ministry Facebook post.
The mining company, which registered in October last year is a sole proprietorship owned by Samreth Bunthoeun, is based in Sre Por village in Srah Russei commune.
“The pumped sand only supplies the Vattanac Ready-Mixed Concrete Company,” Bunthoeun said. “Our pumping distance is 200 meters from the riverbank, which ensures safety, reduces environmental impact and complies with the time and policy of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.”
A middle-aged resident who has lived in Sre Por village, near the site of the new sand mining license, said he has watched the three dredgers operate and has concerns about their impact.
“Nowadays along the river in my community it really disturbs the locals and so does the noise from their pumping,” he said. “Often, when the ferry engine is repaired we see the engine leaking into the river, which affects the environment and disturbs tourists in this area.”
The resident claimed there had been sand-mining along that stretch of the river for many years and several bank collapses in past years.
“Every year there are a few landslides in some places around this area, and during the dry months I see the river getting deeper and deeper,” he said. “I urge the authorities and relevant ministries to monitor and guide the business people to respect the law and reduce the disturbance to the residents of this area.”
Srah Russei commune chief Den Phearum denied there has been any negative side effects of sand mining in the area or the surrounding community.
“They are pumping according to the correct analysis, pumping away from the river bank and following the role of the Ministry Mines, and I do not think there is any noise to the villagers and there is no bank collapse as mentioned,” Phearum said.
Buntheoun said there may be other sand mining companies operating illegally in the area.
“I hope the Ministry will check the businesses that have operated without registering in the list of some ministries that are happening and pumping without complying with the Ministry’s limit,” Buntheoun said.
There is one other sand-mining company licensed in Stung Treng, according to Kong Sitha, deputy director general of the General Department of Mineral Resources.
Environmental outlet Mongabay reported there were 49 legally registered sand mining companies operating as of August 2022. Ung Dipola, Director General, General Department of Mineral Resources could not be reached for comment.
Local media reported in October that Cambodia had reopened sand exports and barges were crossing the Vietnam border, after exports had been banned since 2017.
Environmental activist Ly Chandaravuth said that sand mining has continued to increase significantly in Cambodia, raising concerns about environmental and social impacts to communities and bodies of water.
He said he hoped the relevant ministries had conducted in-depth research to assess the impact of the operations.
“[Sand-mining] deepens the river and increases the risk of flooding,” he said. “I think they should be very careful because the ecosystem is not easy to repair.”
