Small Scale Gold Mining in Cambodia
A Situation Assessment
Published: September 2004
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Publication Summary
Oxfam America has published Cambodia's first ever report on small-scale gold mining in Cambodia. The report was written by Mr. Sieng Sotham, the Director of the Department of Geology, General Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy. This report examines four of the nineteen known gold deposits. Using these four case studies the report illustrates the issues involving the use of toxic chemicals, the socio-economic factors and the lack of effective legislation.
"Weak or even non-existent regulation enforcement together with limited professional expertise has led to a sector that is increasingly becoming environmentally destructive and hazardous to human health," according to the conclusions of the report.
The report includes four case studies: Phnom Chi gold deposit, Kampong Thom province, Sampeou Loon gold deposit, Kampong Cham province, O Tron gold deposit, Kratie province, Prey Meas gold deposit, Ratanakiri province.
"This report is a crucial first step in addressing these impacts because it is the first of its kind to identify them in a Cambodian context," said Mr Sotham.