According to the Council for the Development of Cambodia, another cement plant will be established in Kratie province in the near future, with investment of about US$286 million and the potential to create around 420 jobs.
Ministry of Mines and Energy spokesperson Ung Dipola, director-general of the General Department of Mineral Resources, said the plant is planned to begin operating in late 2026 or early 2027 and will have an annual cement production capacity of about one million tonnes.
Cambodia can currently produce between eight and nine million tonnes of cement a year for domestic use. In addition to meeting domestic demand, Cambodia also exports cement to some neighbouring countries.
Despite sufficient domestic production, Ung Dipola explained that Cambodia still imports cement from neighbouring countries in some cases to supply construction projects in remote provinces, where transport costs are high.
He added that Cambodia currently has six operating cement plants: four in Kampot and two in Kampong Speu and Battambang. Their combined annual production capacity is about 14 million tonnes.
Ung Dipola also noted that the Cambodian mining sector created more than 10,000 jobs in 2025, an increase of nearly 10%. Among these workers were 1,090 foreigners. However, the number of foreign workers has steadily declined as more Cambodians are trained and hired in the sector.
Meanwhile, Cambodians returning from Thailand have been encouraged to take reasonably paid jobs at home. The Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Manet is currently focusing on creating investment opportunities for the public, particularly T-VET training and skills training in mining, among other areas. By: Pai Sokhim
