A technical team from the environment ministry inspects the waterway which was polluted by the company. Environment ministry
The Ministry of Environment has fined Jin Lu Yuan Energy Environment Protection Industry Co., Ltd., a laundry company based in Preah Niphean commune of Kampong Speu province’s Kong Pisey district, “hundreds of millions of riel” for discharging untreated wastewater into a stream that extends into Kandal province.
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According to the ministry, the company released untreated wastewater that did not meet technical standards and exceeded permissible pollutant levels. This polluted a waterway in Kandal’s Stung Touch, located in Kandal Stung district, earlier this December. The ministry previously ordered the company to cease discharging wastewater and instructed it to treat water correctly at its premises.
Upon inspection, a team from the ministry determined that while water quality in the stream had improved, it still did not meet the required standards. The stream continues to emit a strong odour and appears murky.
Ministry spokesman Khvay Atitya explained that the company was fined and required to compensate for the environmental damage caused, including harm to the biodiversity and ecosystems of Stung Touch and Drainage 61.
The penalties were issued under Articles 287, 289 and 290 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management, as well as Articles 4,6 and 9 of the Sub-Decree on Water Pollution Control. Additional charges may be imposed under Articles 845 and 846 of the same law.
The ministry also ordered the company to restore the walls of the drainage canal to improve its aesthetic value and facilitate continued monitoring of water quality, noting that it must “restore any environmental damage and repair the affected areas by January 31.”
The company is also required to consolidate all discharge points into a single outlet, separate rainwater drainage from wastewater pipelines, and ensure clear and distinct wastewater management systems.
According to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), Jin Lu Yuan Energy Environment Protection Industry Co., Ltd. was established in 2023 to invest in laundry operations.
