Singapore has been a major backer of Cambodia and its post-war reconstruction. But much of the relationship has been built on sand. The island-state desperately needs clean, salt free sand for its building industry, and Cambodia has no shortage of the stuff.
But in its rush to purchase sand on an industrial scale, Singapore and Cambodian authorities have faced a barrage of criticism over environmental damage, while enormous discrepancies in reporting procedures have emerged and cast a pall over the sector.
Cambodia, perhaps attempting to downplay the environmental impact, insists that somewhere between 2.7 million and 16.2 million tons of sand left the country for Singapore between 2007 and 2015.
Singapore, however, tells a different story. It says 73.6 million tons of sand was imported from Cambodia by Singapore, and this was reported to the Commodity Trade Statistics Database at the United Nations.
Phnom Penh said the value of sand sold was $5 million while Singapore said it spent $752 million on Cambodia sand. That has prompted demands for a total ban on sand exports from almost 50 civil society groups. Full story...
Related posts:
But in its rush to purchase sand on an industrial scale, Singapore and Cambodian authorities have faced a barrage of criticism over environmental damage, while enormous discrepancies in reporting procedures have emerged and cast a pall over the sector.
Cambodia, perhaps attempting to downplay the environmental impact, insists that somewhere between 2.7 million and 16.2 million tons of sand left the country for Singapore between 2007 and 2015.
Singapore, however, tells a different story. It says 73.6 million tons of sand was imported from Cambodia by Singapore, and this was reported to the Commodity Trade Statistics Database at the United Nations.
Phnom Penh said the value of sand sold was $5 million while Singapore said it spent $752 million on Cambodia sand. That has prompted demands for a total ban on sand exports from almost 50 civil society groups. Full story...
Related posts:
- Singapore could face legal action over sand importation...
- Cambodia's villagers lose ground – literally – to Singapore's expansion...
- Singapore's surging growth straining geographical limits...
- Sand for Singapore's growth comes at environmental cost to poorer neighbors...
- Singapore's sand wars...
- Singapore accused of stealing beaches and starting "sand wars..."
- Singapore looks underground for more room...
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