"Cambodia’s Ambitious Funan Techo Canal Project Sparks Concerns Near and Far" 23 March 2024

Cambodia plans to start construction on the $1.7 billion Chinese-funded Funan Techo Canal this year and complete construction by 2028. The project proposes to dig a 180 kilometer canal connecting Phnom Penh to Kep province, affecting waterways in Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep provinces...

“There is no information, and it is getting closer to when construction will start,” said Mov Sarin, a motorcycle taxi driver and ex-soldier who has lived beside the Prek Takeo stream...

Sarin was scared when he first heard about the development project...He’s seen what he suspects were Chinese investors involved in the project drive in to visit Prek Takeo, which made him anxious because he didn’t know what they were doing while his community is still waiting for answers. The Chinese state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation was contracted to conduct a feasibility study of the project...

Currently, the only available document regarding plans for the project is that August document from the Cambodia National Mekong Committee notifying the Mekong River Commission (MRC) of the project. It claims there will be “no significant impact on the Mekong River system’s daily flow and annual flow volumes” and minimal social and environmental effects.

“But there is no discussion of the actual environmental impacts to the Mekong River and the transboundary floodplain within the document,” said Brian Eyler, a director at the Stimson Center. “The document also lacks a cost and benefit analysis and a discussion of how the economic benefits will flow to Cambodians.”...