Non-tax revenue collected from the mining sector increased more than fourfold in 2015 compared with the year before, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Meng Saktheara, a ministry spokesman, said non-tax revenue rocketed to about $17.25 million in 2015 from just over $4 million in the previous year.
These revenues include royalties, land rent, fines and penalties, administration charges and signature bonuses.
Mr. Saktheara attributed the sharp increase to a government crackdown on “anarchic” mining activity and stronger collection measures. “Firstly, we have cracked down on anarchic mining businesses that did not pay the revenue to the government,” Mr. Saktheara said.
“Secondly, we have strictly implemented improvements to the effectiveness of collecting revenue in the mining sector.”
Mining in the oil and gas sectors contributed about $8.85 million and about $8.4 million, respectively, in 2015, according to the spokesman.
Oil and gas firms had previously avoided paying signature bonuses, but the government was able to collect these revenues for the first time last year, he added.
