Chinese owned gold mine destroyed in blaze in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan 21, 2020, The Khmer Times. A Chinese owned gold mine in Kbal Damrey commune, Sambo district was badly damaged in a blaze which took place early Sunday morning. The cause of the blaze that hit the Chinese company “Shiá” on the night of January 19th and continued into the morning of the 20th is still unknown, The Khmer Times reported.

Sambo district police said the blaze had not caused any injuries, but had damaged material and gold mining equipment.

Authorities are at the scene to investigating the cause of the blaze. Villagers from the area said that the Chinese company’s presence has always been a contentious issue with people in the surrounding villages because of disputes over mining rights, land and alleged pollution.

The company had previously complained about encroachment into its mining land by villagers who carried out their own illegal mining activities.

It was also not established whether the Shiá company actually made any discoveries or at an exploratory stage.