Let's know the details of the Funan Techo Canal Project! Construction Date, Location, Construction Model...

The Funan Techo Canal Project is the first historic project in Cambodia's waterway transport sector to connect river and sea systems. This project is designed to expand the scope of potential use of water transport, contribute to the promotion of socio-economic activities to move forward to another level, and provide appropriate solutions to the challenges and obstacles of the water transport sector that we are currently facing.

The navigation project has been completed and has been used for a total of 26 months. According to the study, this waterway is 180 kilometers long from Takeo canal of the Mekong River, passing through Prek Ta Ek of Bassac River, then entering Prek Ta Hing of Bassac River, Koh Thom district, and continuing to the sea in Kep province. It passes through four provinces, including Kandal, Takeo, Kampot, and Kep provinces, with a total population of 1.6 million people living on both sides of the waterway. The waterway is 100 meters wide at the top, 80 meters at the bottom, and 5.4 meters deep (navigation depth of 4.7 meters and safety distance of 0.7 meters) with 2 lanes, which enable vessels to safely travel in opposite directions.

The engineering and architectural design of the above waterways are using international standards that can ensure durability and high quality, taking into account all aspects of the technical and environmental aspects for long-term use. The project will build three watergates, 11 bridges, a 208-kilometer sidewalk, and provide navigation assistance and other river-crossing infrastructure. The construction of the new waterway project is estimated to cost US$1.7 billion and take about four years to complete.

The Funan Techo Canal project will provide many benefits, including: reducing the duration, distance, and cost of current transportation; the establishment of commercial zones and logistics centers; the development of several new ports; the expansion of agricultural, irrigation, aquaculture, and livestock husbandry development areas; supporting the development of Cambodia's Fourth Economic Pole; creating jobs at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, and other ports; promoting sustainable urban development; and promoting real estate growth.

For this historic waterway project, it is licensed to be invested in and built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) under the BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer). According to H.E. Peng Ponea; in January, the Funan Techo canal project was scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2024. Recently, H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, said that the project is expected to open in June or July.

On March 20, H.E. Peng Ponea also met with a delegation of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) led by Mr. Gao Xin, Deputy General Manager of the company branch in Cambodia, to accelerate the implementation of the "Funan Techo Canal" waterway project.