Japanese mining company Nittetsu Mining was granted a three-year copper exploration licence for Stung Treng province, north-east Cambodia.

According to local media reports, the Company plans to commence exploration in early 2020 and is currently in the process of conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

In late August, Nittetsu Mining – a subsidiary of Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (Jogmec) – held a workshop in collaboration with the provincial departments of Mines and Energy and Environment to discuss the project’s socio-environmental impact.

The licence permits Nittetsu to explore for copper on 133 square kilometres in Thala Barivat district’s Anlong Chrey commune.

Ham Kimkong, director of E&A Consultant Co Ltd, which obtained the rights to conduct the EIA for the Nittetsu Mining project, said the assessment will conclude by the end of this year.

In 2016, Jogmec entered into a joint exploration agreement with Canadian mining firm Angkor Gold Corp to explore Angkor’s Oyadao South licence in Ratanakkiri province. The agreement gave Jogmec the option to acquire 51 per cent of the licence for a total investment of US$3 million in exploration expenditures over a three-year period.