Cambodia to build 180-kilometre canal

The Cambodian government has unveiled plans for a new canal that would link some of Cambodia’s key ports to the broader Gulf of Thailand.

Upon completion, the Funan Techo Canal will stretch southward over 180 kilometres beginning from Phnom Penh Autonomous Port. The coverage would allow direct access between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, currently the country’s only deep-sea port, as well as new port to be built in Kampot some 50 kilometres away.

The government expects that the new canal will reduce dependence on Vietnamese ports to ensure the adequate flow of trade.

The canal will have a width of 100 metres and a depth of 5.4 metres to allow the passage of vessels of up to 3,000 DWT. Completion is scheduled for 2028.

Construction of the canal will be carried out under a US$1.7 billion project.

Vietnamese officials have criticised the planned canal, claiming that its construction will have an adverse impact on the Mekong River.