Gold Boom Nets Cambodia $2.85M in Royalties in Just 4 Months

MME

Cambodia’s gold mining industry has delivered a glittering start to 2025, generating $2.85 million in royalties for the government within the year’s first four months, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The figures reflect a sector on the rise, following nearly $100 million in total non-tax revenues from mining in 2024. The ministry heralds the growth as a sign of long-term potential, both for boosting national income and attracting further investment.

“Cambodia has the potential to continuously develop its mining sector by attracting investors and creating new sources of income,” said Mines and Energy Minister Keo Rottanak during a ceremony in Kampong Speu earlier this week.

Gold remains the crown jewel of the country’s mineral wealth, with ten companies currently active in refining operations. Renaissance Minerals (Cambodia) Ltd leads the commercial effort through its Okvau Gold Project in Mondulkiri province, where it extracts and exports roughly 250 kg of gold ore per month for overseas refining.

The government collected $7.93 million in gold royalties last year, suggesting 2025 may outpace expectations if current trends continue. While the ministry stopped short of disclosing the volume of ore exported so far this year, it confirmed Cambodia’s gold production remains concentrated in the northeast, particularly in Mondulkiri, where firms like Renaissance and Rong Cheng operate.

In 2023, the country produced more than 12.5 tonnes of dore bars—semi-pure gold blocks—containing around 90 percent gold.

With global demand for precious metals and construction materials still high, Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged officials to seek new export markets not only for gold, but also for other mineral and cement products.

The government’s push to develop the sector marks a broader strategy to diversify the economy and tap into Cambodia’s rich underground resources—turning mineral wealth into long-term economic gain.

-2025-05-22