![]() Minister of Environment Say Sam Al said the government will conduct studies along rivers, tributaries, and the sea coast to determine which areas can sustain exploitation of sand. Military Police Commander in Chief Sao Sokha said he would cooperate with the two ministries to stop illegal sand dredging. We are working hard to extend their licenses in a short period of time, but if they continue to operate, they will be prosecuted, “he said. “Companies whose licenses are expired must stop to avoid breaking the law. Suy Sem said that there are 142 sand dredging companies operating in Cambodia, but only 37 of them have licenses. “In order to avoid illegal sand dredging, we can extend licenses to meet sand demand," he said, promising quick approval to applications to continue existing dredging. They will not be permitted to open new dredging sites during the moratorium period. However, Suy Sem said in order to meet local demand for sand, companies who hold valid licenses can apply to extend their permit dredge sand at existing dredging sites. Under the policy, holders of sand dredging business licenses must submit new applications, he added. Suy Sem didn’t say when the studies will begin or how long they will take. “The government will also stop issuing any new licenses until the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Mines and Energy discuss with local authorities at all levels first,” he said. Much of the sand is exported to neighboring Southeast Asian countries and used in construction. Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem told a news conference on Wednesday that the environmental and social impact studies will determine the future of sand dredging. Cambodia has put a hold on new applications for licenses to conduct sand-dredging operations in the country's rivers and lakes in order to study the environmental and social impact of a practice that has caused deadly incidents of river bank collapse.
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