Progress of Funan Canal

Progress of Funan Canal

Cambodia plans to start construction on the $1.7 billion Chinese-funded Funan Techo Canal this year and complete construction by 2028. The project proposes to dig a 180 kilometer canal connecting Phnom Penh to Kep province, affecting waterways in Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep provinces...

Currently, the only available document regarding plans for the project is that August document from the Cambodia National Mekong Committee notifying the Mekong River Commission (MRC) of the project. It claims there will be “no significant impact on the Mekong River system’s daily flow and annual flow volumes” and minimal social and environmental effects.

“But there is no discussion of the actual environmental impacts to the Mekong River and the transboundary floodplain within the document,” said Brian Eyler, a director at the Stimson Center. “The document also lacks a cost and benefit analysis and a discussion of how the economic benefits will flow to Cambodians.”...

Timeline

Cambodia: Govt. announce that Funan Techo canal construction to start in August; potential affected residents lack information about compensations30 May 2024 : Cambodia: Govt. announce that Funan Techo canal construction to start in August; potential affected residents lack information about compensations

30 May 2024 : Cambodia: Govt. announce that Funan Techo canal construction to start in August; potential affected residents lack information about compensations : 

• "Funan Techo Canal Construction Begins in August, Canal Residents Clueless on Compensation", 30 May 2024
• Prime Minister Hun Manet made it clear … that the Funan Techo Canal is scheduled for construction in August 2024. Residents living along the canal project have yet to be informed about compensation packages.
• …, Hun Manet said the canal construction should not be delayed anymore…
• “We will start construction in August,” he said. “This project is nationalistic and most Cambodians will participate in the construction, thus it’s very encouraging.”
• He added that Cambodia has been in talks with Chinese investment companies regarding the technical aspects and for the companies to invest some money to build the canal, but most of the investment will come from Cambodia.
• There were concerns raised by the Vietnamese regarding the impact of biodiversity as well as news reports that the project will serve the Chinese military but Hun Manet said it would not cater to Vietnamese or Chinese interests…
• The $1.7 billion, which will be funded by China, stretches 180 kilometers from Phnom Penh to Kep province. It will run through Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep provinces…
• Sophan May, who lives along Prek Takeo, the first section of the canal, in Kien Svay district, Kandal province told … that she heard about the project from the news but no authorities have come to inform them.
• She wanted more details on the project, such as how it will affect her land and house…
• Another resident, Heang Nang Eng, living along Prek Ta Hing stream, the second section of canal, echoed similar views, noting that the authorities have not shared any information as yet…

06 May 2024 : Cambodia: Govt. commit to pay fair compensations to affected communities in Funan Techo Canal construction :

• "Committed to fairness: Govt working out compensation to those affected by Funan Techo Canal project", 6 May 2024
• A senior government official in charge of investment in Cambodia said … that while the impacts of the Funan Techo Canal construction on local residents are inevitable, the government is planning fair compensation and resettlement …
• …, Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) urged people not to seek personal profit by purchasing land in the area with the intention of selling it to the government once construction begins.
• The 180-kilometre canal has received overwhelming backing from the Cambodian people and organisations, …, despite objections from Vietnam and several outside parties due to their concerns over the canal’s impacts on the Mekong Delta.
• … Chanthol added that people will be “paid fairly” for their land, but at the same time, he called on people not to turn this into an opportunity by rushing to buy real estate in the area.
• … In the meantime, San Chey, Executive Director at The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA) Cambodia, called on authorities to learn from the challenges encountered regarding compensation during the construction of the motorway and apply that knowledge in establishing fair compensation for the people affected by the canal project.
• “Cambodia will have a magnificent, historic structure, but its value should be matched by the compensation for its impacts,” he said. “The project should not inflict loss on the people.”
• … Upon completion, the canal is expected to boost agriculture, create jobs, and reduce the cost of transporting containers from Phnom Penh to the sea…

30 Apr 2024 : Cambodia: Following international controversies over Funan Techo Canal project, govt. gain local support for canal construction :

• "Mass Public Support Received For Funan Techo Canal, Thwarting International Criticism, Research Report", 30 April 2024
• The Funan Techo canal has received overwhelming response from Cambodians following Senate president Hun Sen’s call to locals to show their support after a string of criticism and negative news on the project…
• … At the Cambodian Oknha Association gala dinner …, Hun Sen said he needed to respond to the criticism on behalf of Cambodia and how the project would benefit the country. He called for support from Cambodians to make the Funan Techo canal a national monument.
• Citizens, workers, government units and students joined the movement to support the project, speaking out via videos and petitions, and posting it on social media…
• Separately, several riverine communities, who will be affected by the canal project, have said they support the project but hope that will be properly compensated.
• ... It would be remarkable if Cambodia developed the project with transparency and accountability, and was funded by local tycoons, he added, however Vietnam might be worried as the canal was a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project with a Chinese company.
• … Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told … that they support the demand for socio-economic development of Mekong river riparian countries.
• It also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation for effective and sustainable management and use of the Mekong River water resources because it is critical for the sustainable development of the basin and the interests of communities in the basin, the future of the next generation, and solidarity among riparian nations.
• … Following the notification, the MRC secretariat transmitted it to the other member countries as per their procedure, it said …

29 Apr 2024 : Cambodia: Former PM Hun Sen dismisses Vietnam's concerns over environmental and geopolitical impact of Chinese-built Funan Techo Canal :

• "Cambodia will not negotiate over Funan Techo canal: Hun Sen" 29 April 2024
• Cambodia’s leader Hun Sen has said that his country would not negotiate with Vietnam over the planned Funan Techo canal, despite concerns about its environmental and geopolitical impacts.
• A group of Vietnamese experts suggested last week that Hanoi should ask Phnom Penh to delay the project for further discussions.
• The Funan Techo canal...will connect the Cambodian coastal province of Kep on the Gulf of Thailand with the inland provinces of Kandal and Takeo, and the capital Phnom Penh via a tributary of the Mekong River...It will be developed by a Chinese company at a cost of US$1.7 billion...
• But the project has raised concerns in Vietnam where the rice-growing Mekong delta is vulnerable to sea water incursions if the Mekong’s flow is reduced. A series of dams on the river in China to the north has already raised fears about flows downstream...
• While calling for Vietnam’s understanding, Hun Sen said Cambodia’s eastern neighbor also “built a lot of dams to protect their crops and these have an impact on Cambodia.”...

Cambodia's PM Hun Sen dismissed Vietnam's concerns over the Chinese-developed Funan Techo canal's environmental and geopolitical impacts, refusing to negotiate or delay the project despite its potential effects on the Mekong delta and downstream flows.

24 Apr 2024 : Vietnam: Mekong Delta farmers will face worsening water shortages & crop failures due to Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal, experts warn :

• "Cambodia's Funan Techo canal could upset Mekong Delta ecosystem: experts" 24 April 2024
• Construction of the Funan Techo Canal from the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand will cause water shortages and increase salinization in Vietnam's already parched Mekong Delta, experts said.
• The delta is already suffering legions of dead crops and families without water due to droughts, hot weather, severe erosion of useable farmland, drying out of seafood resources... It is Vietnam's most important agricultural region, on par with similar growing and cultivation areas in its neighboring countries...
• Le Anh Tuan, a Senior Lecturer at the College of Environment and Natural Resources...said the formation of the Funan Techo Canal will definitely have a negative impact on the region..."When the Funan Techo Canal is operational, the Mekong Delta in Vietnam will experience an increase in the shortage of fresh water for daily life, agriculture, production, aside from deeper and more frequent saltwater intrusion, and the ecosystems will be disrupted," Tuan said...
• The shortage of fresh water in the Mekong Delta will affect dozens of climate change adaptation projects and poverty alleviation projects that have been and are being implemented...
• The information about the project that Cambodia provided to the MRC in the announcement on Aug. 8 last year is still very limited, and did not enough to fully assess the increasing impact on water, sediment, erosion, and salt intrusion...

Experts warn that Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal project is worsening freshwater shortages and crop failures in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. This project exacerbates the region's existing challenges of drought, erosion, and saltwater intrusion and threatens vital agriculture, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

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Funan Techo Canal Construction Begins in August, Canal Residents Clueless on Compensation

Prime Minister Hun Manet made it clear on Thursday morning that the Funan Techo Canal is scheduled for construction in August 2024. Residents living along the canal project have yet to be informed about compensation packages.

Speaking at the Buddhist Cultural Centre of Cambodia in Preah Suramarit-Kossamak Kirirom National Park in Phnom Sruoch district, Kampong Speu province, Hun Manet said the canal construction should not be delayed anymore.

The project comes from the “spirit of nationalism” and a majority of Cambodian investment will be in the construction. 

“We will start construction in August,” he said. “This project is nationalistic and most Cambodians will participate in the construction, thus it’s very encouraging.” 

He added that Cambodia has been in talks with Chinese investment companies regarding the technical aspects and for the companies to invest some money to build the canal, but most of the investment will come from Cambodia. 

There were concerns raised by the Vietnamese regarding the impact of biodiversity as well as news reports that the project will serve the Chinese military but Hun Manet said it would not cater to Vietnamese or Chinese interests. Rather, the canal will be dug in Khmer territory for Khmer people. 

The $1.7 billion, which will be funded by China, stretches 180 kilometers from Phnom Penh to Kep province. It will run through Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep provinces. 

With less than three months before construction starts, those along the canal project said they have yet to receive any information. 

Sophan May, who lives along Prek Takeo, the first section of the canal, in Kien Svay district, Kandal province told CamboJA News that she heard about the project from the news but no authorities have come to inform them. 

She wanted more details on the project, such as how it will affect her land and house.

“[I] want them [authorities] to come down quickly so that we can know [more] and find somewhere else to live,” Sophan said. “If they come late, it will be difficult for us to leave immediately.” 

Another resident, Heang Nang Eng, living along Prek Ta Hing stream, the second section of canal, echoed similar views, noting that the authorities have not shared any information as yet. 

Samraong Thom commune chief at Kien Svay district Chey Sam Oun said he already received some general information about the canal, but plans for further action have not yet reached the local authorities.

“People want to know, but we are also waiting because my side [the authorities] need to receive information first,” he said. 

He did not have any data on the number of people living along the Prek Takeo canal, such as those who live on state land, in reference to those by the river bank, and also others who lived on their own land. 

Residents near the Prek Ta Ek steam located in Sa’ang district, Kandal province might be
affected by the Funan Techo Canal project, February 29, 2024. (CamboJA/Pring Samrang)

Government spokesperson Pen Bona declined to comment, referring the reporter to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT) instead.

Spokesperson of MoPWT Phan Rim said in relation to the impact on the people, it will be done through the government mechanism, with an inter-ministerial working group led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the participation of the local authorities. He did not respond to the question as to why there was no official notification to the citizens of the canal project. 

First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia Sun Chanthol did not respond. 

Political analyst Meas Nee said if people in the area have not been informed by the authorities, it means the impact study has not been conducted. 

“If they authorities conduct the impact study, they have to come down and ask people, and if people say they have not seen the authorities, it means that the digging of the canal is just a political message. But for the detailed impact study, I would say there was none conducted yet,” he said.  

He added that the problem with delayed information regarding big investments and their effect on people always happened. People are not informed in advance until the construction starts. Then they are forced to accept the different conditions of compensation. 

“I do not want to see this happen with the Funan Techo canal. The project has great history, but if the people are seriously affected, it is not fair,” he said, adding that he supported the canal development. However, “the government needs to spend time not just counting the number of affected families and giving them money, but also thinking about where people should live.”

Source

PM urges against land purchases surrounding the Funan Techo Canal for state compensation

Prime Minister Hun Manet urged against buying land around the Funan Techo canal project solely to seek compensation from the state later.

He made this statement on Thursday, June 6, during an inauguration of the official use of the Kampot multi-purpose port in Kampot province.

“If we are truly patriotic, desiring Cambodia’s independence in transportation, economic development in the southwest, and the overall benefit of our nation from this historic canal, we must work together,” the premier added.

Dr. Hun Manet underscored, “I would like to call in advance for unity, especially among those living along the delta.”

On the occasion, Premier Hun Manet reaffirmed that the Funan Techo canal project is no longer 100 percent financed by foreign companies but is now primarily owned by Cambodian companies, with a stake of 51 percent or more. He added that the canal project aims to benefit the nation and the Cambodian people from now into the future, rather than serving foreign interests. Fresh News

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