Background
On 21 May 2026, Deputy Secretary of State Oeung Chantha of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) led a technical team to inspect site locations for two subprojects: Lomhach in Kampong Chhnang Province and O Ta Paong in Pursat Province. The visit included technical representatives and a delegation from the General Directorate on Development-Related Impact (GDR) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The CAISAR project is financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). MOWRAM is the government agency responsible for planning and managing national water-resource infrastructure, including irrigation and hydrological systems.
Key Developments
The field mission aimed to evaluate the current condition of hydrological infrastructure, identify model site locations, and collect additional data to support more detailed feasibility and design studies. MOWRAM officials instructed project technical teams to accelerate study work and prepare timely measures to resolve identified challenges so that subsequent implementation can proceed according to the established workplan.
Institutional Role
MOWRAM acted as project lead and coordinating authority for on-site technical assessment and initial site selection. Donor representation in the mission reflected the CAISAR project’s multi-lender financing structure and the need for coordinated technical inputs between the ministry and financial partners.
Operational Implications
The team-level recommendations focused on gathering site-specific technical information, clarifying design parameters, and documenting constraints that will feed into the project’s detailed studies and procurement planning. Accelerating technical studies and preparing mitigation measures were highlighted as immediate operational priorities to maintain the project schedule and technical compliance.
Source
Official announcement: MOWRAM Facebook post, 21 May 2026 (source URL provided).
