By:
• Ou Sokmean

• November 30, 2024 , 1:30 PM

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia has produced around 13 tonnes of gold from five sites since mining started. About 3,361kg of refined gold were exported in the first 10 months of 2024.

The mines are in Mondulkiri, Kratie, Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear and Battambang provinces.

Renaissance Minerals Cambodia, established in 2021, has refined the largest amount of gold in Okvauarea in Mondulkiri province, with three tonnes in the first eight years.

With a $120 million investment, the Australian company was the first industrial company with international standards to mine in Cambodia, producing ore bars of 90 percent purity. 

The company makes an average of $185 million of gross income per year. Around $40 million is the national revenue from royalties and other taxes.

Keo Rattanak, Minister of Mines and Energy, said these companies had provided jobs for about 11,300 Cambodians, of whom 1000 were women.

“Nontaxable income has reached around $90 million this year, equivalent 150 percent compared to the Law on National Budget and 170 percent compared to 2023 figure,” he said.

Rich in natural resources, Cambodia offers more than gold. There is coal in Stung Treng, granite in Kratie, aluminum in Mondulkiri, and silver ore in Preah Vihear. Mineral sand can be found along the rivers.

The country has exported more than 19 million cubic meters of river sand, 221,151 cubic meters of block stone, 3.49 million square meters of sheet stone, 527,695 tonnes of raw iron ore and 40,012 tonnes of raw manganese ore.

By the third quarter of this year, mineral resources were operated by 555 licensed companies with a total of $2.76 billion in investments.

Oddar Meanchey also has gold, while limestone for cement production can be found in Battambang and Kampot. Construction minerals can be mined in Kampong Chhnang. Kampong Speu has construction minerals and coal.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Meng Seavmey for Cambodianess.