Ministry Names Companies Able To Export Sand

The Mines and Energy Ministry on Wednesday gave the names of two companies granted sand export licenses after CNRP lawmaker Son Chhay asked the ministry to provide detailed records.

The Mong Reththy Group and Silica Services (Cambodge) received licenses to export silica sand, the only sand allowed to leave the country after a ban on construction sand exports went into effect in November, a statement from the ministry says.

The sand is extracted from waters between 0.3 and 2 meters deep and therefore does not require hydrological and fishery assessments, it adds.

According to the ministry, Mong Reththy exported 54,100 tons of sand from November to June 15 of this year.

Silica Service exported 104,000 tons in the same period.

In June, Mr. Chhay formally asked Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem to provide detailed trade records for silica sand following controversy over construction sand exports due to enormous discrepancies in import and export records between countries.

Mr. Chhay said on Wednesday that the ministry’s response was “informative.”

“Now we know the names of the companies,” he said.

Silica sand is used to produce glass and is not used for construction.

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