Japan gov’t group signs agreement for metal mine in Kampong Speu province

MINISTER of Mines and Energy Suy Sem signed another memorandum of agreement on Thursday with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp ( Jogmec) to study and explore a metal mine in Kampong Speu province.

Ministry of Mines and Energy spokesman Yos Monirath told The Post on Sunday that the project is scheduled to start late next month.

“According to the plan, it’ll be dry season by late November and it [ Jogmec] will start its preliminary study and exploration, working with local authorities,” he said.

The government will allow the company to conduct the feasibility study for one year and if the mine has potential, the company will then need to apply for an operational licence.

“We hope the area will have the potential for metal mining and that it [ Jogmec] will provide its findings to other Japanese firms to do business [here],” he said.

On April 25, Japanese mining company Nittetsu Mining (Cambodia) Ltd, a Jogmec subsidiary, obtained a threeyear copper exploration licence from the ministry for Stung Treng province.

The firm is set to begin exploration early next year and is currently conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The licence allows the firm to explore for copper on 133sq km in the province’s Anlong Chrey commune in western Thala Barivat district.

In 2016, Jogmec entered into a joint exploration agreement with Canadian mining firm Angkor Gold Corp to explore Angkor’s Oyadao South licence in Ratanakkiri province.

The agreement gave Jogmec the option to acquire 51 per cent of t he licence for a tota l investment of $ 3 million in exploration expenditures over t hree years.