Nearly 100 families in Preah Sihanouk province’s Teuk La’ak commune, in Prey Nop district , have called for the closure of Kubon (CAMBODIA) Technology Co., LTD., a company that processes cattle hides, if it does not cease polluting local waterways. The pollution has negatively impacted their fishing activities, health and public water sources.
The petition follows recent interviews between affected villagers and a joint working group from the Ministry of Environment and local authorities in Chrolong and Kampong Smach Toch villages in Teuk La’ak commune.
“If the company cannot solve the issue, we request its closure to prevent further harm,” declared the villagers.
In late June, the ministry issued a letter ordering the company to suspend its production activities, restore the environment and comply with legal requirements after it determined that the factory was discharging untreated wastewater into the Prek Pha’av and Prek Kampong Smach streams.
Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya stated that nearly 100 out of about 500 households in the two villages were directly affected.
“People want the factory to stop discharging liquid waste into areas where they live and make a living. Previously, near the factory site, they could fish, raise shrimp and crabs, and use the stream, but now that’s no longer possible. If the company hasn’t yet restored the area, it should not be allowed to operate,” he said.
He added that if the company continues operations, waste discharge is unavoidable, as leather processing involves washing hides for use in animal feed and other products.
“The company imports cattle hides from abroad for processing. We’ve observed that their production is still ongoing. As for factory closure, we haven’t ordered it yet. We’re asking them to comply with our legal measures first. But if they continue to violate the procedures, the factory will face closure,” he explained.
According to officials, before the factory’s arrival, locals could raise species such as striped catfish, stone crabs, mud crabs and shrimp. They earned daily incomes of around 80,000–100,000 riel. Currently, however, they can only earn 5,000–10,000 riel per day. Many fish have died off or drastically declined due to the daily discharge of foul-smelling liquid waste into Prek Kampong Smach.
Beyond economic impacts, residents have reported health issues including respiratory diseases, allergies and skin irritation. Some villagers have been forced to migrate or change jobs, working in other factories, just to earn income to repay bank loans they had taken to invest in fish farming.
“The entire stretch of Prek Phlov stream has been polluted by liquid waste from the Kubon factory — from its location down to where the stream connects to Prek Kampong Smach. The water is murky, emits a strong stench and contains floating oil, chunks of leather, and sludge that clings to the roots of mangroves and other vegetation,” noted the ministry.
