Japanese oil company to survey Cambodian basin

The Associated Press
May 4, 2010

A state-affiliated Japanese oil company was Tuesday granted rights by the Cambodian government to survey for oil around Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.

The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation will conduct a study over 6,500 square kilometers (2,509 miles) of the Tonle Sap basin, located about 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh.

The lake covers about 250,000 hectares (618,000 acres) during the dry season and expands to about 1.25 million hectares (3 million acres) during the rainy season.

It is known as a rich habitat with more than 200 species of fish, 42 types of reptiles, 225 species of birds and 46 kinds of mammals.

In the past, conservationists have expressed concern that oil projects could damage the basin's environment.

The government, which has promoted oil exploration in the Tonle Sap region as part of its energy strategy, says that it will protect the lake from environmental damage.

Fumiaki Fujita, a representative of the Japanese oil company, said it will first conduct onshore geological and geophysical surveys to assess oil reserves. If oil is found, the company will negotiate with the government for full-scale exploration of the area.