Gold Mining in Cambodia

The gold mining industry within Cambodia is currently in a state of transition. Although considered smallscale by international standards, the scale and extent of operations is increasing. Sector growth has been characterized by an increasing number of miners employed, ever more complex and deeper mine excavations (some up to 80 meters deep), and the introduction of chemical-based gold recovery techniques that represent a movement up the technology curve.

In 1975 twelve gold deposits were known to exist within Cambodia having been identified by French geologists. Ten gold deposits were located in the western regions of Cambodia with a further two located in northwestern Cambodia. The latter regions however were comparatively inaccessible as a result of thick jungle and in later years the presence of the Khmer Rouge. However during the Vietnamese occupation throughout the 1980s however the northeastern region was one of the safest in Cambodia and thus favorable for gold prospectors.

Within a few years seven new significant gold deposits had been discovered by local farmers in the northeast, instigating a ‘gold rush' to the region. There are currently 19 known gold deposits in Cambodia.

Year by year gold mining has become an increasingly important profession in Cambodia, both for full-time professional migrant gold miners who move from one gold deposit to another, and for local farmers who supplement their income between agricultural seasons. At present, it is estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 people are employed during the peak mining season in Cambodia, which begins in November and finishes in May, i.e. Cambodia's dry season (Department of Geology, Pers. Comm., 2004). New mining settlements, whose population can number up to 1,000 people, have appeared close to many major gold deposits. These transformations place stress on local communities and additional pressures on the local environment.

One of the major differences between the mining industry in Cambodia and those in other countries is the organizational grouping of the miners. Mainstream international mining companies are not represented and the sector appears increasingly dominated by local, Korean or Chinese backed small companies. There are many independent gold mining individuals and small groups, but it would appear that the number of independent miners is decreasing in the face of increasing control over mining areas by concessionaires, companies, and wealthy miners. In addition, military personnel are posted to operations partly to maintain control and partly for civil order. Political overtones create an added dimension that shapes the Cambodian gold mining sector.

Two types of small-scale mining operation are found to be predominantly conducted in Cambodia: open trenching, and underground shafting/tunneling. The choice of mining method is dependant on the location of the gold-bearing ore. Pocket mining is also conducted on surface placers and shallow deposits, although many of these locations are now exhausted and unprofitable.

Source: Oxfam America - Small-scale gold mining in Cambodia; A Situation Assessment.