Background
Industrial water demand in manufacturing areas requires case-by-case resource review when factories seek to rely on groundwater for production. Groundwater abstraction for industrial production is a water-resource governance issue because high-volume pumping can affect aquifers, nearby users, and local water systems. The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology is the national institution responsible for water resources management and meteorology in Cambodia.
Cambodia’s water-resource governance framework uses technical assessment and legal compliance checks to manage extraction requests. Article 12 of Cambodia’s Law on the Management of Water Resources was cited by MOWRAM as the legal basis for reviewing the requested groundwater use. The assessment process links legal authorization with site conditions, requested volumes, and potential effects on water-resource systems in the surrounding area.
Key Developments
On 30 April 2026, Under Secretary of State Uk Vuthy, representing Minister Thor Chetha, led a MOWRAM technical team and officials from the Kampong Speu Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology to inspect the requested groundwater-use site. The inspection was conducted with representatives of Sen Tree (Cambodia) Lighting Co., Ltd. in Kan Tamra village, Changruk commune, Kong Pisei district, Kampong Speu province.
According to the ministry, Sen Tree (Cambodia) Lighting Co., Ltd. manufactures Christmas trees and lighting products for export to international markets. The company’s production plan requires approximately 5,000 cubic meters of groundwater per day for general use and production-line needs.
Compliance Implications
MOWRAM stated that the inspection and evaluation were intended to ensure proper implementation under technical standards and compliance with Article 12 of the Law on the Management of Water Resources in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The stated purpose was to manage the use of water sources properly and avoid impacts on the regional water-resource system.
The ministry’s public information did not state that the requested groundwater use had been approved. The documented action was a field inspection and technical evaluation of the company’s request.
Operational Implications
For export-oriented manufacturing, access to reliable water supply can be part of factory operations, but groundwater use remains subject to resource-management review when formal approval is required. The Kampong Speu inspection shows how Cambodia’s water authority links industrial water demand with technical review, legal compliance, and local resource protection.
