"Foreign-owned factory fined $400,000 for releasing toxic waste into river" 14 August 2023

A foreign owned factory – that had already been suspended for large scale environmental pollution into a Battambang river – has now been fined over $400,000 for a leak that contaminated water, turning it abnormally black and killing fish.

On August 10, 2023, the Ministry of Environment issued a formal notification letter to the owner of Phoenix Industial Co., Ltd, located in Phcheav village, Treng commune, Rattanak Mondul district, Battambang province stating that the company must pay impact compensation to the account of the Committee on Environment and Society before the 20th October 2023.

The letter states that in addition to the above fines, the Ministry also requires Phoenix Industial Co., Ltd to relocate the factory from the current area to another location at least 10 km away from Stung Sangke water source.

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Ratanak Mondul District Governor Kuy Vannoa said the river had turned black after industrial waste released into it. “There was a leak in the factory’s piping system and the leak was only discovered after about three hours and by then it had contaminated the river water,” he said.