Mines Ministry Declares Fishermen's Protest Against Sand Dredging Illegal, Cites Company's Valid License

Cambodia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has described a violent confrontation involving fishermen and a licensed sand dredging company near the Prey Veng–Kandal provincial boundary as unlawful, stressing that the company has legally held a sand extraction licence for the site since 2020. The ministry made the remarks during a July 5 press conference, following a July 2 incident. Officials said the briefing was intended to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and address public misconceptions arising from video footage shared online. Ministry secretary of state Ung Eang said the dredging site had been operating legally for several years. “The site in question is one for which the ministry issued a licence for sand dredging operations. Our inspection confirmed that the company has complied with all legal and regulatory requirements, particularly the conditions of its licence. This is not a new operation — it has been active at this location for four to five years,” he noted. He condemned the violence directed at the company’s workers. “The use of violence by members of the public against workers carrying out licensed mineral resource operations is unacceptable,” he added. The ministry urged citizens who suspect illegal mining or sand dredging activities to report them directly to the ministry, assuring the public that all complaints would be treated with complete confidentiality. Officials said the ministry would investigate every report and provide clear explanations where appropriate, while discouraging people from taking matters into their own hands. The confrontation followed the circulation of a 16-minute video posted on social media on July 2, in which local residents and fishermen from Prey Veng province alleged that sand dredging had caused riverbank erosion, threatening homes in their community. The dispute escalated into violence against workers at the dredging site. However, ministry spokesman Ung Dipola, who led an inspection team comprising ministry officials, local authorities and other relevant agencies, said the dredging operation is located within Kandal province, not Prey Veng, and found no evidence that the company had caused riverbank collapse. He acknowledged that illegal sand dredging can contribute to riverbank erosion but stressed that licensed operations are subject to strict standards designed to prevent environmental damage. According to the ministry, properly regulated dredging not only avoids harming nearby communities but also contributes to river management while generating significant revenue for the state through royalties and export duties. Eng Dipola said government revenue from sand exports over the past five years has exceeded $450 million in royalties and export taxes, rising to around $600 million when tax revenue is included. He said sand extraction licences are issued under strict legal and environmental requirements, with companies facing licence revocation if they fail to comply. The spokesman again called on the public to report any suspected illegal mining or dredging activities to local authorities, provincial mining departments or the ministry itself, rather than resorting to violence. “The ministry has always considered the social and environmental impacts of mining. Mining operations must balance development with conservation. It must protect the health of workers and surrounding communities while generating national revenue for Cambodia’s development. We will never support activities that leave people living in fear or distress,” he said.