Cambodia Commercial Gold Mining 2024
Cambodia increased its gold production capacity to 13 tons in the first 10 months of 2024, following the 9.5 tons produced in 2023. The company that led this charge was Renaissance Minerals, an Australian company with mining operations in Mondulkiri province.
During a press conference held on November 6, 2024, Ung Dipola, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Energy, stated that in the first 10 months of 2024, Renaissance Minerals produced 307 gold nuggets, equivalent to 12,536 kilograms of gold, while Rong Cheng, a Chinese company, produced 12 gold nuggets, equal to 22 kilograms of gold.
Renaissance Minerals Gold Production In Cambodia
According to the Cambodian government, Renaissance Minerals, a subsidiary of Australia-listed Emerald Resources, has the highest yield of gold production in the Okvau area of southwestern Mondulkiri province’s Keo Seima district. The company commenced production in 2021.
Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen previously stated that Cambodia expects to generate almost USD 200 million each year in pre-tax flow from this gold mining project, with around USD 40 million being national revenue from royalties and other taxes.
Currently, Renaissance Minerals is also under license to explore 107 hectares of land in Memot district of Tboung Khmum province, as urged by the government, with the contract set to end in 2024.
Renaissance Minerals produces semi-finished gold alloys containing 90 per cent gold. All quantities of extracted gold ore are shipped to Australia for refining, where they are transformed into 100 per cent pure gold.
Gold Mining Operations In Cambodia As Of 2024
Ten gold mining companies are currently in active operation in Cambodia. These include:
- Renaissance Minerals and Rong Cheng in Mondulkiri
- Mesco Gold Company, Oriental Wisdom Company and Angkor Gold in Ratanakiri
- Xinshan Industrial and Delcom Cambodia in Preah Vihear
- Jiangxi Mining Energy Development and Xing Yuan Kanng Yeak in Kratie
- Late Cheng Mining and Cambodia K88 in Kampong Thom
- Phu Yuan in Battambang
Due to news of illegal mining activities, the Cambodian authorities launched a campaign to crack down on illegal gold mining and have thus far closed down three operations in Memot district.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy reported in 2023 that royalties from all registered mining activities in Cambodia increased from USD 2 million in 2013 to more than USD 50 million in 2023.
According to Open Development Mekong, other mining activities in Cambodia include mining for gemstones, iron, steel, granite, limestone, bauxite, silver, coal, copper, minerals, laterite, rock and other metals.