In November, there was a satellite imagery analysis revealing that over 2,400 mining sites across Mekong river basins — including alluvial and heap-leach gold mines — were allegedly causing toxic pollution into the river and putting communities including Indigenous Peoples at risk. The company that was allegedly linked to the gold mine's pollution is Global Green (Cambodia) Energy Development (Global Green) being granted an exploration licence inside Virachey National Park in Ratanakiri province. It is unclear whether the company was granted to extract gold, though.

Business and Human Rights Centre requested the Global Green for a response to the allegations but it did not.