ABSTRACT
Cambodia was formerly a rich, rice-surplus country, roughly comparable to West Malaysia in both population and land area. Cambodia has potentially promising mineral resources capable of supporting moderate levels of production. Cambodia does not produce any minerals for world markets, except for small amounts of gemstones. It imports refined oil products because its oil refinery at Kompong Som is reportedly inoperable. Commercially viable deposits of phosphates, iron ore, bauxite, manganese ore, silica, gold, gemstones, and pagotite have reportedly been identified. The government’s role may well be vital in any large mineral and industrial project. There is an oil refinery at Kompong Som built with French help in 1968; it is said to have been severely damaged during the war. The Mekong River extends inland to Laos. Building roads into the dense forests where the minerals occur is difficult. Mine development will have to be coordinated with road construction.
