Upstream Dams, Downstream Trouble
March 12th, 2013, HydroWorld.com, Agriculture & Agri-business, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Disputed Waters, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Fishing, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, Lakes/Rivers, Land Tenure, Water
As examples, Laos broke ground on a new Mekong River dam that’s causing concern bordering on fury in Cambodia and Vietnam. India is enraged about a new Chinese dam going up on the Brahmaputra River. And Ethiopia’s new dam on the Nile is angering Sudan, while Egypt has threatened war. …
Perhaps the most egregious example is Laos, which broke ground on a new hydroelectric dam on the Mekong late last year – ignoring the howls of complaint from downstream. Just south in Cambodia, for example, the Mekong provides the livelihood for much of the population because of an unusual natural phenomenon.
Cambodia’s Tonle Sap River is a Mekong tributary that flows southeast from a lake of the same name. Each spring, the Mekong swells, and its current grows so strong that it forces the Tonle Sap River to reverse course, carrying tons of rich, fertile mud and millions of young fish back up to the lake. the lake floods, depositing new, rich soil on thousands of acres around its perimeter. the fish provide meals for Cambodians through the year. By potentially restricting the river’s flow, the Laotian dam threatens all of that. …
Hydroworld Staff
http://www.hydroworld.com/news/2013/03/12/upstream-dams-downstream-trouble.html
Energy Minister Defends Lower Sesan 2 Project
February 14th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Disputed Waters, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Farmland, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, Lakes/Rivers, Land Tenure, News Source, Water
Energy Minister Suy Sem yesterday defended a draft law on the financing of a massive dam project in Stung Treng province which is slated for debate at the National Assembly on Friday.
Environmental groups have called debate of the law premature, as no consultation with local communities has taken place. About 1,000 families face displacement by the Lower Sesan 2, according to a 2009 environmental impact assessment, but the draft law only factors in compensation and relocation for 797 families. …
Sun Mesa, P.18
www.cambodiadaily.com
Philippines seeks closer ties with Cambodia
February 9th, 2013, ABC News, Agriculture & Agri-business, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Exports, Imports, International Relations, Land Tenure, Rice, Trade
Philippines Vice President Jejomar Binay says Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen supports the signing of agreements between Manila and Phnom Penh in rice trading and in fighting transnational crime.
Cambodian officials have also expressed interest in launching direct flights between Manila and Phnom Penh. …
Shirley Escalante
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-09/an-philippines2c-cambodia-seek-stronger-ties/4510270?section=business
France Ready for Talks on Gas Power Plant
February 7th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Electricity, Energy, Foreign Investment, Land Tenure, Natural Gas, News Source, Oil
Utilities giant Electricite de France (EdF) is preparing to enter negotiations with Cambodia over the construction of a power plant to use up natural gas locked up in disputed waters off the country’s coast, France’s ambassador-in-waiting to Cambodia said on Tuesday.
Serge Mostura, who is still awaiting confirmation as ambassador, said that French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told Prime Minister Hun Sen during a private meeting on Sunday that EdF was ready to sign a memorandum of intent to enter negotiations. …
Neou Vannarin
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/france-ready-for-talks-on-gas-power-plant-9596/
Petronas still eyeing Cambodia
January 21st, 2013, The Edge Malaysia.com, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Energy, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, Natural Gas, Oil
After closing the last of its 19 petrol stations in Cambodia in April 2010, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is again eyeing the country’s oil and gas (O&G) sector. This will see Chevron and its partners developing the country’s first offshore oil field this year.
According to Petronas president and CEO Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas, the Malaysian national oil company will deliberate on the merits of re-entering the Indochinese nation should the company be able to work out a win-win deal with the Cambodian authorities. …
Cambodia’s offshore oil fields are categorized under Blocks A to F, which are also claimed by Thailand. Both countries are negotiating how they will jointly capitalise on the O&G reserves within the Gulf of Thailand.
Onshore [sic], Cambodia was reported to have licensed blocks to state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group or PetroVietnam, and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp, or Jogmec. …
Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd president and CEO Dr Abd Hapiz Abdullah was quoted as saying that the company is planning to grow its regional presence in Myanmar and Cambodia from 2013.
Chong Jin Hun
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/229579-petronas-still-eyeing-cambodia.html
Energy security linked to firm borders
January 11th, 2013, Bangkok Post, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Disputed Land, Disputed Waters, Energy, Extractive Industries, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, Natural Gas, Oil
Energy supplies will be more secure once territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia are resolved, Department of Mineral Fuels director-general Songpob Polchan said on Friday.
Mr Songpob said that the sooner Thailand and Cambodia are able to work out their differences, the sooner they can exploit natural gas reserves and ensure energy security, especially with energy consumption rising in both countries every year.
He said the border dispute around the Preah Vihear temple is unrelated to a separate maritime dispute. Even if the border problem has been settled and drilling concession has been granted, it will be another 10 years before the gas could be extracted. He urged the government to consider public sentiment on the issue. …
Bangkok Post Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/330370/end-to-border-row-to-help-energy-sector
Rights Workers Questioned by Court on ‘Incitement’ Charge
October 11th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Economic Land Concessions, Land Tenure, News Source, Social Concerns
The Ratanakkiri Provincial Court questioned two well-known human rights workers yesterday in an incitement lawsuit brought against them by a CPP commune chief, one of those questioned said.
About 200 ethnic minority Tumpuon villagers, embroiled in a land dispute with the DM Group rubber company, protested outside the courthouse calling for Adhoc’s provincial coordinator Pen Bonnar and Adhoc investigator Chhay Thy to be freed.
Mr. Bonnar and Mr. Thy—along with Cambodian Center for Human Rights President Ou Virak and Radio Free Asia journalist Sok Ratha—have been called for questioning over a 2009 complaint lodged by Kith Chem, the ruling party’s chief of Batang commune in Lumphat district, alleging they defamed him and incited a violent protest by the Tumpuon villagers over a land dispute with the DM Group. …
Kuch Naren, P. 15
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/rights-workers-questioned-by-court-on-incitement-charge-3712/
Cambodia eyes domestic oil production, refinery for energy security: official
September 27th, 2012, Platts, Disputed Waters, Energy, Extractive Industries, Land Tenure, Natural Gas, Oil
Cambodia is working on three fronts to improve its energy security and supply, including the development of its first oil-producing asset, looking for ways to resolve a disagreement over disputed territory in the Gulf of Thailand, and studying the economic viability of building its own refinery…
Cambodia’s GDP in 2011 was just under $13 billion, according to the World Bank, and that is expected to grow five-fold by 2030, Khavan said. In recent years, the growth trend has meant annual oil product demand growth of about 10%, with all of the country’s needs being met through imports from Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The most imminent development that will start to address the issue of energy supply will be kicking off work on Block A in the Gulf of Thailand, an oil exploration block operated by Chevron (30%), with partners Mitsui (30%), KrisEnergy (25%) and GS Caltex (15%)…
Platts Staff
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/7105582
Thais eye 2001 Gulf blueprint
September 19th, 2012, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Extractive Industries, International Relations, Land Tenure, Natural Gas, News Source, Oil
Cambodia and Thailand yesterday reiterated their commitment to restart negotiations over an expansive and resource-rich section of the Gulf of Thailand known as the Overlapping Claims Area – but the two countries have yet to set a date for the talks. …
In 2001, officials from both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the joint development of the 26,000-kilometre area, believed to be rich in oil and gas. …
Over the past 10 years, political developments have scuttled the agreement on joint exploration in the Gulf. It wound to a standstill in 2006 when former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is close to Prime Minister Hun Sen, was toppled in a military coup.
Vong Sokheng, P. 2
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012091958795/National-news/cambodia-thailand-eye-overlapping-claims-area.html
Officials urge maritime talks be resumed using 2001 MoU
September 18th, 2012, Bangkok Post, Disputed Waters, International Relations
Legal experts and officials agree that negotiations with Cambodia about overlapping maritime claims should resume under the 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thailand.
The MoU was revoked by the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
Vasin Teeravechyan, head of the Thai-Cambodian joint boundary sub-committee, said many related officials and foreign consultants as well as security agencies have supported the idea of negotiating maritime boundaries based on the 2001 MoU…
Bangkok Post Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/312802/officials-urge-maritime-talks-be-resumed-using-2001-mou
Villagers Say Preservation of Pond Is Worth Fighting For
September 17th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Disputed Land, Disputed Waters, Environment & Natural Resources, Infrastructure, Lakes/Rivers, Land Tenure, News Source, Social Concerns
The future of a pond that sparked controversy last Monday, when about 400 people stopped authorities from filling it with sand in preparation for the construction of a military police base, remains in question, locals said yesterday.
The residents of 10 villages protested last week in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district, saying the pond is their main source of water and was filled in against their will. …
Following last week’s confrontation, plans to fill the pond were temporarily suspended, but villagers say they still have not received a response to complaints that they filed asking the commune, district and provincial governments to permanently halt the project. …
… Kandal Provincial Military Police Commander Meas Sovann said that the pond was of no use to anyone, and that provincial officials had given the military police permission to build a new base on the pond. …
Mech Dara and Jennifer Lazuta, P. 20
http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/ (Note: Infrequently Updated.)
Residents could be evicted as pumped sand fills the Boeung Tumpun lake
September 17th, 2012, Demotix, Construction, Disputed Land, Disputed Waters, Economic Land Concessions, Farming, Farmland, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure
Heavy machinery is pumping millions of tonnes of sand from the river into the Boeung Tumpun lake in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The area is home to some 2000 families and rumours suggest they will be evicted to develop the land once the lake is filled….
The Phnom Penh Post reported today that the area was earmarked for development: “by four firms – AZ Group, ING Holdings, Daun Penh Construction Group and SMEC International.”
Stephen Ford
http://www.demotix.com/news/1454508/residents-could-be-evicted-pumped-sand-fills-boeung-tumpun-lake#media-1454415
Villagers Save Pond From Being Filled
September 12th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Disputed Waters, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Infrastructure, Lakes/Rivers, Land Tenure, News Source, Social Concerns, Water
Approximately 400 people from 10 villages in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district stopped a truck on Monday that had been hired to fill in a pond in preparation for the reported building of a military police base, officials said. …
Thuon Nging, a representative of the villagers, said the pond, which is about one-half hectare in size, is a primary source of water for the villagers, as there are no other rivers or lakes nearby. …
Kandal provincial military police commander Mean Sovann claimed that the pond was of no use to the villagers. …
Villagers are now patrolling the pond to make sure it is not filled in while talks start with authorities.
Kaing Menghun, P. 18
http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/ (Note: Infrequently Updated.)
Cambodia Says No Strings Attached in Recent Chinese Aid
September 10th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, The Wall Street Journal, Banking & Finance, Borrowing, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Foreign Aid, Foreign Investment, International Relations, Land Tenure, News Source, Technical Assistance
China has done a lot to support Cambodia over the years, with millions of dollars in aid, loans and investment. But after reports last week that China has pledged another $500 million in soft loans and grants-and publicly thanked Cambodia for its support in Southeast Asia-Cambodian officials want to be sure no one suspects the little country is falling too much under China’s sway.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap, chairman of the Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit at the National Assembly, said China’s loans have nothing to do with Cambodia’s recent support for China in disputes involving South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by China and several Southeast Asian states. …
The latest loans are just “encouragement from China’s premier Wen Jiabao,” Mr. Yeap said, adding that China doesn’t ask ask for anything in return. Rather, China just “sees that Cambodia is in need for [money] to develop the country,” he said.
Patrick Barta, P. 19
http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/ (Note: Infrequently Updated.)
Cambodia Says No Strings Attached in Recent Chinese Aid
September 6th, 2012, Wall Street Journal, Banking & Finance, Disputed Waters, Foreign Investment, International Relations, Technical Assistance
China has done a lot to support Cambodia over the years with millions of dollars in aid, loans and investment. But after reports this week that China has pledged another $500 million in soft loans and grants—and publicly thanked Cambodia for its support in Southeast Asia—Cambodian officials want to be sure no one suspects the little country is falling too much under China’s sway.
Cheam Yeap, chairman of the Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit at the Cambodian National Assembly, said China’s loans have nothing to do with Cambodia’s recent support for China in disputes involving the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by China and several Southeast Asian states. That backing includes a now-famous episode in July when members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations failed to reach a consensus on how to resolve conflicts in the sea at their latest summit in Phnom Penh, failing even to issue their customary joint communiqué at the end…
Patrick Barta
http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2012/09/06/cambodia-says-no-strings-attached-in-recent-chinese-aid/
PM will hand-deliver titles
September 5th, 2012, The Phnom Penh Post, Disputed Land, Disputed Waters, Economic Land Concessions, Forests, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, News Source, Protected Areas, Social Concerns, Social Land Concessions
Prime Minister Hun Sen will personally deliver land titles to residents in Kratie province’s Snuol district on September 21 following the completion of the land measuring mission by volunteer youth there. …
According to the premier’s order, land titles have been granted in three forms of disputed land: concession land granted to private companies since 2000, economic land concessions and state land covered by forest that has been designated as such since 2002 and which residents have occupied since.
Hun Sen again touted the ambitious figures: 1.2 million hectares of land measured across 178 communes for 350,000 families, but since the project began, only 10 per cent of the disputed land has been measured. …
In his speech, Prime Minister Hun Sen also said he will publish 200,000 copies of the basic principles on land and sea border issues with Vietnam that he presented in his marathon five-hour speech to the National Assembly on August 9.
Chhay Channyda, P. 3
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012090558506/National-news/pm-will-hand-deliver-titles.html
Cham families agree to move from the riverbank
August 18th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Disputed Waters, Economic Land Concessions, Environment & Natural Resources, Infrastructure, Lakes/Rivers, Land Tenure, News Source, Social Concerns
More than 100 Cham families living in boats on the banks of Phnom Penh’s Chroy Chongva peninsula have agreed to relocate upriver after they celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan over the weekend, a community representative said on Friday.
Matt Kriya, a representative for the floating Cham community, said authorities had informed them they would be moved 500 meters north on the Tonle Sap river on Monday as a temporary solution to an order demanding their relocation. …
Chroy Chongva commune chief Chao Sidorn said that authorities were currently working out how to properly relocate the families, but that nothing had yet been decided. …
Leng Len, P. 11
http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/ (Note: Infrequently Updated.)
With Eviction Looming, Cham Fishing Families Live in Fear
August 13th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, Agriculture & Agri-business, Construction, Disputed Waters, Environment & Natural Resources, Fishing, Infrastructure, Lakes/Rivers, Land Tenure, News Source, Real Estate, Social Concerns
Children played along the banks of Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva peninsula yesterday, while their parents napped under the shade of their bright yellow and blue boat homes.
But members of this Cham fishing community overlooking Phnom Penh’s city space said it was a very different scene on Friday night, when about 20 armed police officers came at 10 p.m. to force them to relocate. …
Matt Kriya, a representative of more than 100 Cham families living along the peninsul, said 66 families currently remain on the riverbank.
Authorities had ordered the families to move their boats since Thursday, citing the need to beautify the riverbank and make way for the construction of a brand new Sokha Hotel, which now stands towering over the ham boat community below.
Chao Sidorn, Chroy Changva commune chief, said yetserday the community has until Saturday, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, to move. …
http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/ (Note: Infrequently Updated.)
Cham Families On Riverbank Told to Leave
August 11th, 2012, The Cambodia Daily, Agriculture & Agri-business, Construction, Disputed Waters, Economic Land Concessions, Fishing, Infrastructure, Land Tenure, News Source, Social Concerns
More than 100 Cham fishing families who moor their boat homes on the banks of Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva peninsula have been ordered to relocate, with one official saying the fishing boats were spoiling the beauty of the riverbank and the area around the new hotel.
“We already informed them [of the eviction], said Chao Sidorn, Chroy Changva commune chief.
“We told them the purposes, which are basically for community safety, riverside beauty and the development of the Sokha Hotel construction,” Mr. Sidorn said.
Mr Sidorn said the Cham families, who live and work on their small fishing boats, would have to move elsewhere, and that there was no compensation for their relocation. …
Matt Kirya, a member of the Cham community being forced to move from their riverbank, said that no warning was given by the authorities and that members of the marine police threw a rope around some of their boats on Thursday night and hauled them out into the middle of the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. …
Len Leng, P. 11
http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/ (Note: Infrequently Updated.)
New home not where the heart is for Xayaburi locals
August 5th, 2012, Bangkok Post, Construction, Disputed Waters, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, Social Concerns
… For the past several days, Boonma and seven other Houay Souy villagers have travelled back to their homes near the Xayaburi Dam building site on the Lao side of the Mekong River. Since the beginning of the year they have been relocated to a new village, Ban Na Tor Mai, 40km from their traditional homes. …
Boonma and Ta’s household was among 100 others relocated from their village of Houay Souy to make way for construction work, the first batch of 458 households along the river from Xayaburi to Luang Prabang in northern Laos to be moved.
They have been relocated despite the dam project not receiving the unanimous approval of the other Mekong River Commission (MRC) member countries, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/306038/new-home-not-where-the-heart-is-for-xayaburi-locals