Preah Sihanoukville province needs sand from other provinces to supply construction sector

• 11 July 2019
• Local News
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With its booming construction sector Preah Sihanoukville province does not have enough quality sand for construction and supply is reliant on it being transported from other provinces. Officials have said that transporting sand from other provinces incurs high transport costs, leading to an increase in sand prices in the province.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Oeng Dypola, Deputy Director General of Mines at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said the higher price of sand in Preah Sihanoukville province may be a factor in using low sand for construction as traders and vendors who want to increase turnover mix quality sand with low-quality sand.

“When they transport sand to the province, it is out of the authority of the Ministry of Mines and Energy to control and know the exact work or purpose of the sane sold by traders and vendors. But traders or vendors who buy sand, because they want a higher turnover mix quality sand with sea sand, which cause lower quality construction,” Mr Dypola said.

According to Mr Dypola, Preah Sihanoukville province does not have quality sand for construction due to its location is close to the sea which makes the sand low quality and not usable in construction. But the sea sand is only just to fill up the foundations of construction.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy has issued licenses for extracting sand in Phnom Penh, Kampong Speu and Kampong Cham. The sand from these destinations are being brought to Preah Sihanoukville province.

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