July 8, 2026
PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of Environment has ordered the closure of a landfill in Preah Sihanouk province, after it was determined that the site had polluted a nearby stream and caused the death of multiple fish.
In a disappointing twist, the landfill is operated by Mi Ner Va Investment Co., Ltd., which was previously granted permission to develop a waste recycling facility that would process discarded vehicle components, electronic and electrical equipment, as well as industrial waste. The project was approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), with an investment capital of approximately $300 million, in 2018.
The ministry reported that inspectors visited the site, in Stung Hav district’s Kampenh commune, on July 5, after fish deaths were reported in nearby aquaculture ponds.
Officials concluded that the company’s management of industrial solid waste failed to meet environmental standards, allowing contaminated leachate to escape into the surrounding environment, causing the fish mortality.
Ministry officials, working with the district administration, ordered an immediate halt to all waste disposal activities at the site.
The company has been instructed to redirect all waste to an alternative, approved disposal facility. Legal action has been initiated against Mi Ner Va Investment, with the company facing administrative penalties.
In addition, it has been ordered to compensate affected parties for both direct and indirect losses and to undertake environmental restoration measures.
Officials also collected water samples from the site for laboratory analysis, to further assess the extent of contamination and identify the pollutants involved.