Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment has discovered that MESCO GOLD (CAMBODIA) LTD, an Indian-owned gold extraction company in Pheak village, Yatong commune, Ou Ya Dav district, Ratanakiri province, discharged liquid mercury waste into the O’Tray river system, lowering oxygen levels and causing fish deaths.
Inspectors from the General Department of Environmental Protection conducted a field check on October 4 and found mercury-contaminated liquid flowing approximately 30 meters from the gold extraction site into the river. Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya told reporters on October 6 that water samples and waste samples from five locations had been collected for laboratory analysis.
Authorities found that the company had transferred mercury-laden wastewater from settling ponds into temporary black rubber ponds that lacked sufficient containment capacity. The ministry ordered MESCO GOLD to repair leak points, set up proper containment systems to prevent runoff into rainwater drainage, and avoid mixing with local waterways.
Khvay Atitya added that beyond halting the discharge, the ministry is imposing internal fines according to environmental and natural resource regulations, including Articles 156, 173, 287, and 694, and Sub-Decree No. 27 on water pollution monitoring. The company must compensate for environmental and public health impacts, implement technically compliant wastewater treatment systems, fully follow Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, and pay environmental and social mitigation funds.
Social observers have criticized Cambodian authorities for allowing companies to operate before completing full environmental and social impact assessments, a practice that continues to harm local communities.
The Equitable Cambodia organizations reported that since 2007, industrial exploitation of mineral resources has prioritized corporate profit while reducing effective oversight, increasing environmental risks. Expansion of machinery and use of industrial chemicals have heightened threats to land integrity, environmental safety, and workers’ health, particularly affecting indigenous populations.
MESCO GOLD now faces stringent orders to contain its operations and mitigate harm to both the environment and local communities.
