Cambodia: Govt. reviews Mekong River Commission's request for additional documentation on Funan Techo Canal amid Vietnam's concerns over its impact on water resources
"Cambodia to meet MRC’s request on Funan Techo Canal documentation", 28 April 2025
Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) announced … that the Kingdom is working closely with expert institutions to assess the feasibility of providing additional documentation requested by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) regarding the Funan Techo Canal project.
… However, the secretariat of the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission (MRC), which oversees the sustainable development of Southeast Asia’s longest river, said in a statement last week it had so far received only “basic information” about the project from Cambodia.
“We hope that further details, including the feasibility study report and other relevant reports, will be provided,” the commission said, adding that the details will ensure that any potential implications for the broader Mekong Basin are fully considered.
In a statement …, “..., Cambodia officially notified the MRC Secretariat of its Funan Techo Canal project proposal. In its notification letter, Cambodia attached the notification format and relevant project documents, in accordance with the MRC Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation, and Agreement (PNPCA),” CNMC stated...
Following a recent request from the MRC Secretariat for additional project documents, the CNMC will continue its cooperation with Cambodia’s relevant expert institutions to review the feasibility of appropriately responding to this request.
… Since the announcement of the project by the government, Vietnam has expressed concern about the potential impact of the Funan Techo Canal on the Mekong River. However, during a previous press conference, Chanthol clarified that the proposed project requires only five cubic metres per second (m³/s), equivalent to 0.053% of the Mekong’s flow, countering concerns raised by Vietnam regarding water loss. He asserted that once the canal is operational, it would contribute to mitigating floods in southern Vietnam…