Senior officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Prey Veng provincial administration visited ពាមរក៍ district on 4 July 2026 to address a dispute between residents and a sand-dredging company. The visit followed protests by residents who alleged that dredging had caused riverbank erosion and affected their livelihoods.
The meeting took place at the ពាមរក៍ district hall, chaired by យស មុនីរ៉ាត់, secretary of state at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and សួន សុម៉ាលីន, governor of Prey Veng.
At the meeting, អ៊ឹង ឌីប៉ូឡា, director-general of the General Department of Mines, said the company ចតុមុខ held a valid licence and was dredging within its licensed area. He added that the ministry had conducted a thorough technical study and assessment before issuing the licence.
Responding to concerns about riverbank erosion, the director-general said inspections by technical officials had not found evidence establishing that sand dredging at this location caused the erosion.
He further explained that the purpose of the dredging was to balance the depth of the riverbed, reduce erosion risks and facilitate navigation by heavy cargo vessels along the Mekong.
To address residents’ concerns, the ministry introduced new measures allowing the company to continue dredging within the existing licensed area. It must place marker buoys from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and move barges and buoys outside the area at other times to make fishing easier for residents.
យស មុនីរ៉ាត់ supported the solution, describing it as a way to maintain the interests of both the company and residents. He also announced a monitoring post at the village chief’s house so that the parties could jointly monitor dredging. If dredging outside the licensed area was found, it would be reported immediately to the ministry for action, including licence revocation.
Prey Veng Governor សួន សុម៉ាលីន also called on residents to exercise restraint and report problems through local authorities and competent officials for resolution under established procedures, avoiding violence that could create further difficulties.
The authorities said the residents who had protested did not attend the meeting despite being invited. Nevertheless, the parties concerned would continue seeking a transparent, fair and effective solution to support harmonious coexistence and sustainable development.
By: Pai Sokhim
