by Sotheary
Phnom Penh: Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia has produced 1,751 kilograms of gold in seven months from O’Khvau area in Mondulkiri province.
The prime minister spoke in an inauguration ceremony for the official use of China-aided National Road No. 7 rehabilitation project in Kratie province on Monday 07 February.
“In just seven months, we produced 1,751 kilograms of gold, and today we can produce more, from 80 to 100 kilograms,” PM said.
PM claimed that gold production in Cambodia has increased more and more due to the economic poles in the northeast, agro-industry and mineral resources. Other mines such as bauxite, coal and other unused gold mines have not yet researched.
However, PM said that the gold produced has not yet become useable gold. It must be refined to produce useable gold in Australia. Some of the gold produced weighs more than 20 kilograms, some more than 30 kilograms, and some more than 10 kilograms.
“I also set the kingdom’s northeastern area as the fourth economic pole, focusing on the agro-industry and mineral resources. Cambodia still has various types of other minerals such as coals and other gold mines that have not been studied. Since our gold is not pure, we export them to Australia for gold refining,” PM underlined.
Invested by Renaissance Minerals (Cambodia) Limited, O’Khvau Gold Project officially started on 21 June 2021 and it is estimated to produce approximately three tons of pure gold per year in the first eight years. In 2022, four more gold mining companies will officially kick off their operations in Cambodia, located in Preah Vihear, Kratie, Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces.