Angkor Resources Corp. (TSXV: ANK) announced that its planned oil and gas exploration drilling program on Block VIII in Cambodia has advanced to an inter-ministerial review, with a meeting held July 14, 2026, in Phnom Penh. This meeting represents a critical step in the review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the program, which is being conducted by the company's wholly owned Cambodian energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources Co., Ltd. ("EnerCam").
During the meeting, EnerCam management met with representatives from five government ministries—including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Rural Development—along with officials from three provinces. The discussion focused on the planned drilling activities and the specific preventative and proactive measures the company will implement to protect the environment and local communities during the exploratory drilling phase.
The EIA, prepared by the Cambodian independent consultant Green Assessment Co., Ltd., covers four sub-basins that host the drill targets for EnerCam's planned four-well exploration program. If completed, these would be Cambodia's first privately financed onshore oil and gas wells. Ahead of the meeting, officials from the General Department of Petroleum and the Ministry of Environment visited each planned drill site with local landowners and authorities to ensure thorough oversight.
Key topics addressed in the 398-page EIA report and the inter-ministerial meeting included how drilling fluid and water will be sourced, used, stored, and cleaned using steel tanks and pits with impermeable liners to protect soil and groundwater; safety measures before, during, and after drilling, drawing on internationally recognized well-control standards (IWCF and API); post-drilling procedures, including local community involvement and land restoration if a well is not productive; and initiatives to expand ESG practices to benefit communities and protect land, water, and air quality.
Mike Weeks, President of EnerCam, commented: "This meeting reflects the thorough, transparent process behind the drilling program. The EIA lays out exactly how we will source and manage water and drilling fluid, keep each site safe, and restore the land if a well is not productive - all to international standards, and all done in partnership with the Ministries and the communities where we operate."
Further written responses to questions will be compiled by Green Assessment over the coming weeks for the final submission report. After the report's completion, EnerCam will move to publish its tender for a drilling contractor to execute the planned exploration wells.
Angkor Resources Corp. is a leading resource explorer in Cambodia, working towards mineral and energy solutions. Its mineral subsidiary, Angkor Gold Corp. Co., Ltd., holds two mineral exploration licenses with multiple prospects in copper and gold. EnerCam was granted an onshore oil and gas license for Block VIII, an area currently encompassing approximately 4,095 km² after adjustments. The company completed 2D-seismic in 2025 and identified multiple drill targets. The planned drilling program aims to prove Cambodia as a nation with its own oil and gas resources under a Production Sharing Contract.
For more information, visit the company's website at angkorresources.com or follow @AngkorResources on social media platforms such as LinkedIn.
