The government of Cambodia has approved the construction of a new cement plant inside the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. The cement plant plans to source limestone from a mining operation less than 1km from the site.
The approval comes despite a November 2023 moratorium by Ken Rattan, the country’s minister of mines and energy, on new mining licenses and a halt to the expansion of existing mining businesses in Prey Lang.
The 99ha plot of land in Kratie province that has been earmarked for the cement factory was awarded on 13 January 2025 to KP Cement, a politically connected company already operating mining pits in Prey Lang, according to reports by Mongabay. Since the approval, forest clearance has started.
