Mine tailing pollutes the environment in Kampong Cham

Dumping of mine tailing in Kampong Cham (Photo: Or Phearith, RFA)

Mine tailings (also known as slimes, tails, leach residue, or slickens) are the materials left over after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction (gangue) of an ore (Source: Wikipedia)

The illegal mining operation in Memot district, Kampong Cham province, which the authority shut down in the past, is now creating environmental pollution during rains, local villagers observed. They also claimed that their life is also being affected by this pollution.

Community representatives and villagers from Sampov Loun village, Choam Ta Mao commune, Memot district, Kampong Cham province, asked the authority to intervene with the illegal mining explorers who dumped their tailing near a dike, to remove them out because the tailing contains pollutants that flow into their ricefields.

Troeung Lavy, a community representative, who was interviewed on 20 Nov., said that the villagers requested him to ask the authority to intervene by pushing for a removal of the mine tailing. After each rain, the tailing would flow into the dike, filled up the dike bottom, and thereby affect the rice crop planting: “The last rain, we saw dead fishes. We are concerned and we want them to tow the tailing out from here.”

Tum Yorm, a farmer, said that if the tailing is not removed, there should be other mean to help the villagers: “Something should be done to prevent [the tailing] from flowing into the dike, maybe a concrete dam to prevent it [from flowing into the dike] altogether.”

Suon Dy, a director of the ministry of industry, mining and energy, indicated that the mine tailing existed before any ruling came, if the villagers demand that those who dumped the tailing come to take it out, it would be difficult to resolve this issue: “If the villagers demand that those who did this [dumping] to take care of it, it will be difficult to resolve because they did this some time back. The most important is that we stop them from continuing further, i.e. we took clear measures, if they do not abide by them, we will send them to court, and most important, we demand a clear study.”

Phauk Savuth, the deputy director of the provincial environmental office which is part of the committee to review the pollutants in the tailing, indicated that the results [of the investigation] will be shown after the Water Festival.

The provincial authority issued a letter on 09 September to shut down the illegal mining operation after 35 families sent in their thumbprints accusing the dumping affect the rice crop and other professions.