Week 659

Chevron Said that the Extraction of Oil in Cambodia Depends on the Success of the Exploration – Thursday, 8.4.2010

The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 659

“Phnom Penh: The head of the Cambodian government warned he might cancel the license of Chevron due to this company’s slowness in extracting oil, but the company said that the extraction project depends on the success of the exploration.

“The Prime Minister of the Cambodian government, Samdech Hun Sen, set a deadline for Chevron to produce oil in 2012, otherwise the license of this company will be revoked. This warning was made on 6 April 2010.

“Samdech Hun Sen warned that if this company cannot produce oil by the end of 2012, the contract will be canceled.

“Chevron is an oil exploring company that is licensed to explore the availability of oil in Block A [The green spot in the middle of the map under the previous link is Block A]. At present, this company is exploring oil in an area of about 4,709 square kilometers. In 2007, the company announced that it already made 15 test drillings. Besides exploring oil, the company is supplying fuel under the trademark Caltex, running 24 fuel stations countrywide.

Rasmei Kampuchea could not reach this company in Cambodia for comments, but according to the Associated Press which quoted a statement of this company on 7 April 2009, the goals of this company are in line with those of the Cambodian government: to see a quick start of oil production in Block A to satisfy economic demands. The company added that the start of oil production depends on the success of the exploration, and on some other key factors.

“So far, oil in Cambodia is being explored in six blocks offshore, ranging from Block A to Block F. Three companies are exploring oil in Block A: Chevron (USA – Cambodia operations) (55%), MOECO [Mitsui Oil Exploration – Japan ] (30%), and GS Caltex [Korean] (15%). Block B is being explored by four companies: PTTEP [Thailand] (30%), SPC [Singapore Petroleum Company – A Member of PetroChina] (30%), Resourceful Petroleum [Thailand] (30%), and Cooper Energy [Australia] (10%). Block C is being explored by Polytec and Block D by China Petrotech [China]. Block E is explored by three companies: Medco [Indonesia] (60%), Kuwait Energy (30%), and JHL [J H L Oil & Gas Ltd (USA)] (10%). Block F is controlled by CNOOC [CNOOC Limited, Hong Kong].

“Last year, the National Petroleum Authority of Cambodia predicted that Cambodia will be able to produce its own oil by 2011, while the oil resource of Cambodia are estimated to amount to as much as 2,000 million barrels.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5171, 8.4.2010

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 8 April 2010

Areyathor, Vol.16, #1435, 8-9.4.2010

  • Samdech Hun Sen Travels to Attend the [16th] ASEAN Summit [in Hanoi] after Dealing with the Forestry Administration Heads

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2222, 8.4.2010

  • The Dangkao District Authorities Found a Wood Processing Workshop [run illegally] in the Piphup Thmey Block of Buildings in Dangkao district of Oknha Hong Piv [and discovered hundreds of cubic meters of luxury grade wood – Phnom Penh]
  • The Supreme Court Delayed the Hearing of Ms. Mu Sochua’s Case with Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen [who sued her for defaming him]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #6929, 8.4.2010

  • End Child Prostitution, Abuse and Trafficking in Cambodia [ECPAT-Cambodia] Shows that Within Three Months of 2010, There Were 80 Cases of Rape [happening to 81 victims; there were 91 perpetrators where 75 of them were detained and 48 cases were sent to courts; 50 of the victims are under the age of 15 or 16]
  • Red-Shirt Demonstrators [supporters of ousted and fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra] Surrounded the Parliament and Parliamentarians Climbed Over the Wall to Flee [Bangkok]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.17, #3853, 8.4.2010

  • [Opposition party president] Sam Rainsy Plans to Visit North America after He Announced Success over the Removal of [temporary Cambodian-Vietnamese] Border Markers [Some reports say that representatives of the Cambodian government accepted his findings that some border markers were actually about 500 m inside Cambodian territory – this newspaper does not mention this]

Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.140, #148, 8.4.2010

  • World Bank Forecasts that Cambodian GDP Will Grow by 4.4% This Year [2010]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5171, 8.4.2010

  • Chevron Said that the Extraction of Oil in Cambodia Depends on the Success of the Exploration
  • The Minister of Foreign Affairs [Mr. Hor Namhong]: When Thailand Sends Their Ambassador Back to Cambodia, then It Is the Time That Cambodia Sends Our Ambassador to Thailand
  • The Siem Reap Court Retried [military commander of Region 4] Chea Man’s Son [he was convicted to serve 5 years and 6 months in prison for robbing a telephone and one more year for illegal use of weapon [No reference in this article that his father and Prime Minister Hun Sen accused him of involvement in illegal logging.]

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