Background
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) is the central agency responsible for planning, implementing, and supervising national irrigation and flood management projects. Irrigation and flood-control systems in Cambodia consist of engineered canal networks, sluice gates, and electrically actuated gate-control devices that regulate seasonal water distribution and mitigate flood impacts in agricultural and lowland areas.
The inspected project in Banteay Meanchey is a development program for irrigation and flood reduction financed by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM Bank) and scheduled for completion at the end of June 2026. During a field visit on 3–4 June 2026, State Secretary Ponh Sach, acting as project director on behalf of Minister Thao Chea, led a technical team to evaluate construction progress, operator training, and damage to electronic gate-control equipment.
Key Developments
On 3–4 June 2026 MOWRAM inspected construction progress with a goal of preparing sites for formal handover and stable operation by the end of June 2026. The technical contractor (Mao Construction) was reported to be installing electronic gate-control units and delivering operational training to community operators. MOWRAM teams also reviewed community-level water-user training conducted in coordination with provincial water resources staff.
Institutional Role
State Secretary Ponh Sach provided direction to the construction firm, project consultants, and relevant provincial authorities to prioritise completion of outstanding works. Provincial departments were instructed to increase maintenance responsibilities for hydraulic infrastructure and to coordinate surveillance to prevent theft of electrical control components.
Operational Implications
The visit identified three operational priorities: complete remaining construction items to achieve stable operation, finalise hands-on training for community operators on gate operation and mechanical maintenance, and investigate incidents of equipment theft to safeguard control systems. Ensuring functional gate-control equipment and trained local operators is essential for regulated water distribution during the rainy season and for ongoing asset protection.
Official Source
Source: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Facebook post, 3–4 June 2026: https://www.facebook.com/mowramcambodia/posts/pfbid033zL36BTJkV54PaXFoXWM5coPk35Z8xSE88b8yKq5gHZrBgxNNiwCqfCTxBN51nVfl
