3.6. Oil and gas

Oil and gas exploration has recently started in Cambodia. An Australian company, Woodside, is currently exploring for gas offshore in waters. There is no infrastructure to receive oil and gas in Cambodia. Based on the National Environmental Action Plan (1998-2002), eight potential oil bearing basins have been identified: the Khmer trough and the Pattani trough (offshore sites); the Siem Basin and the Mekong Delta Basin (covering both offshore and on-shore areas); and the Chung Basin, Khorat Basin, Tonle Sap Basin, and Preah Basin (onshore sites).

Oil and gas exploration currently occurs in offshore waters and fuel is transported to Cambodia by sea and stored at a costal facility in Sihanoukville City. There is no government oil spill contingency plan in Cambodia, nor is there any clean-up capability should an accident occur. The extent to which the private sector is prepared for such an event is unknown.

As a conclusion, the development of onshore and offshore oil and gas potential, assuming commercial quantities exist, raises environmental concerns that depending on the scale of operation could have devastating effects. The most vulnerable is tourism, which is also the fastest growing segment of the economy.

Oil contamination could have major effects on the marine/costal biodiversity and fisheries.

• The seabed could be contaminated from drilling mud and solid waste, which may contain toxic residues, including heavy metals. Such contamination would destroy aquatic organisms that live on the sea bottom (benthic organisms).

• An oil spill could destroy important habitats for aquatic flora and fauna. Cambodia’s waters include coral reefs and mangrove forests, and endangered species such as dugong (Dugong dugon) and marine dolphin (Delphinus species).

• If a major oil spill contaminates important spawning and nursery areas for fish and other aquatic organisms, the most productive area in the Gulf of Thailand could collapse.

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Table of contents > 3. Sea Area

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Coastal ecosystems

3.3. Coastal resources

3.4. Other Natural Wonders

3.5. Fisheries

3.6. Oil and Gas

3.7. Salt pans

3.8. Medical plants

3.9. Threats to marine environment

3.10. Threats to the coastal environment