The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, alongside the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), has undertaken a comprehensive study to assess the viability of advanced sewage and solid waste system management in Battambang province.

The focal point for the study is Moung Russey district, with the initiative being funded by a South Korean grant.

To ensure the success of the project, a meeting was convened by the ministry on September 1. The session centred on a pre-feasibility study for the creation of a carbon-neutral urban centre, aimed at facilitating sustainable services within Battambang.

Chaired by Nou Chamroeurn, deputy governor of the town, the gathering saw the participation of several key stakeholders, including representatives from the General Department of Sewerage and Wastewater Management, the town administration and the provincial transportation department, along with an advisor from the GGGI.

Chao Sopheak Phibal, deputy director general of the General Department of Wastewater Treatment Systems, outlined the initiative’s four primary goals. The first is to introduce the circular economy concept for managing the systems in the city. The second aims to identify gaps in management implementation. The third is to tailor the programme to address specific requirements, while the fourth involves engaging relevant stakeholders in the public and private sector.

He said the meeting participants expressed unanimous support for the study’s results. They called for further detailed investigations to precede leadership consultation, in order to ensuring the realisation of the 2025 project.

The GGGI advisor is expected to examine operational and maintenance mechanisms for the project, with a focus on efficiency and sustainability.

The ministry reiterated that it is not just committed to enhancing road and bridge infrastructure, but also to extending development in urban and provincial areas, in alignment with Cambodia’s ongoing development trajectory.