Prime Minister Hun Sen announced at the groundbreaking of a massive Thai-Cambodian joint venture cement factory in Kampot province Thursday that mineral resources are the country’s seventh national development priority .
Hun Sen predicted that the annual national demand for cement would rise to 2.7 million tons by 2012.
In 2000, that figure was only 656,000 tons, but it reached one million tons in 2005 and is expected to rise to 1.6 million tons in 2006.
Cambodia could also produce other raw materials that it currently imports, including oil and natural gas, which have been found in collaboration with fossil fuels giant Chevron, Hun Sen said.
Mineral resources now join irrigation, transportation, electricity, human resources, the garment industry and tourism as the nation’s top development priorities.
“This process is a big step for the government of Cambodia to reform the industrial sector in order to develop an appropriate environment and private investors’ confidence to do business and invest in Cambodia,” Hun Sen said.
He added that the Kampot cement factory is a model for ventures that can be mutually beneficial by meeting priority needs for Cambodia—in this case, the construction of housing and various infrastructure projects—and its foreign investment partners.
Men Den, an economist and minerals expert for the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, added coal, gold, gems and other stones to the premier’s list of mineral resources in Cambodia, but he declined to say how much he believes may be out there.
Men Den confirmed that coal has already been located in Cambodia, but said he was not able to disclose whether the sites are commercially viable.
“In other countries, mineral resources are the top priority,” he said. “When we have cheap power, the rest of the investments will come along.” By Kay Kimsong
the cambodia daily
Prime Minister Hun Sen announced at the groundbreaking of a massive Thai-Cambodian joint venture cement factory in Kampot province Thursday that mineral resources are the country’s seventh national development priority .
Hun Sen predicted that the annual national demand for cement would rise to 2.7 million tons by 2012.
In 2000, that figure was only 656,000 tons, but it reached one million tons in 2005 and is expected to rise to 1.6 million tons in 2006.
Cambodia could also produce other raw materials that it currently imports, including oil and natural gas, which have been found in collaboration with fossil fuels giant Chevron, Hun Sen said.
Mineral resources now join irrigation, transportation, electricity, human resources, the garment industry and tourism as the nation’s top development priorities.
“This process is a big step for the government of Cambodia to reform the industrial sector in order to develop an appropriate environment and private investors’ confidence to do business and invest in Cambodia,” Hun Sen said.
He added that the Kampot cement factory is a model for ventures that can be mutually beneficial by meeting priority needs for Cambodia—in this case, the construction of housing and various infrastructure projects—and its foreign investment partners.
Men Den, an economist and minerals expert for the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, added coal, gold, gems and other stones to the premier’s list of mineral resources in Cambodia, but he declined to say how much he believes may be out there.
Men Den confirmed that coal has already been located in Cambodia, but said he was not able to disclose whether the sites are commercially viable.
“In other countries, mineral resources are the top priority,” he said. “When we have cheap power, the rest of the investments will come along.”
