Background
The APSARA National Authority is the Cambodian agency responsible for management, conservation, and regulatory oversight of the Angkor Archaeological Park and its associated cultural landscape. The SDGERA project includes the staged installation of automated water-control gates to manage hydrological flows and preserve the integrity of Angkor’s historic reservoir and canal systems; initial installations are scheduled to begin in August 2026 under a 2026–2029 implementation plan.
Water-control infrastructure within heritage settings serves both operational flood and drought management functions and heritage-protection objectives by limiting uncontrolled water level changes that can damage archaeological features. The approved implementation plan described technical, equipment, and operational preparations needed to integrate automated gates into existing water-management structures and to coordinate responsibilities among partner institutions.
Key Developments
On 21 May 2026 the APSARA Director-General, Dr. Hang Pouv, joined SDGERA project leadership at the Setec central office in Paris for a joint steering-committee meeting. Participants included representatives from SIAVB, Hydratec, Veolia, AGERA, HPL, SIAAP, and Versailles Grand Parc. The committee approved the 2026–2029 implementation plan and confirmed that the first installations of two automated gates will commence in August 2026, with additional gate installations planned across 2027 and 2028.
Institutional Role
The meeting reaffirmed a long-term partnership commitment between APSARA and technical partners such as SIAVB to support sustainable water-resource governance and heritage protection in the Angkor complex. Partners identified capacity building, technical coordination, and shared operational protocols as core elements for ensuring interoperability between the automated gates and existing reservoir and canal operations.
Operational Implications
Steering discussions centered on technical specifications, equipment readiness, and operational procedures that must be completed before and during installations to enable effective commissioning and handover. The phased schedule requires coordinated procurement, site preparation, and partner-led testing to ensure equipment readiness and functional integration with Angkor’s water-management network.
Source
Official source: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (APSARA) Facebook post, 23 May 2026: https://www.facebook.com/KhmerCultureMinistry/posts/pfbid0qS137HRyHwimwYueBZKMLk1ZMa1bLqZY4Zji1T2jMDc8SV6mpirQuurzSMnMsRthl
