The Funan Techo Canal[1] (Khmer: ព្រែកជីកហ្វូណនតេជោ), officially known as the Tonle Bassac Navigation Road and Logistics System Project is a 180 km long canal under construction in Cambodia, connecting Phnom Penh Autonomous Port with Kep and the Gulf of Thailand.
| Funan Techo Canal | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Length | 180 km (110 miles) |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Kep |
| End point | Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, Kandal |
Naming
editFunan is a name given by ancient Chinese cartographers to a region including present day Cambodia. Techo (Khmer: តេជោ) is a title given to army commanders by the King of Cambodia. It also appears in the name of Techo International Airport, which is located near the eastern end point of the canal.
Overview
edit
The canal would begin at the Takeo Canal of the Mekong River, pass through the Ta Ek Canal of the Bassac River and finally merge with the Ta Hing Canal of the Bassac River in Koh Thom district.[2] It would connect Phnom Penh directly with the country's only deep-sea port in Sihanoukville and the new port in Kampot.[3] The canal crosses through regions totaling 1.6 million inhabitants.[4]
The current plan includes constructing three dams with sluices and eleven bridges. The canal will be 100 m wide and 5.4 m deep, supporting vessels up to 3,000 DWT.[5] The groundbreaking of the canal's construction was held on 5 August 2024.[6] The target completion date is 2028.[5]
Impact on other countries
editCurrently Cambodia relies heavily on using Vietnamese ports, notably that of Cai Mep. The new canal would significantly reduce this dependency.[7] Vietnam has also raised environmental concerns.[8]
Vietnam claimed to have an interest in the canal according to the 1995 Mekong Agreement, but Cambodia refused to give Vietnam insight in the canals details citing that it only has a notification duty under the agreement. According to Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol the canal would require only 5 m³/s of flow from the Mekong, equivalent to 0.053% of the total flow, and the canal would contribute to mitigating floods in Vietnam.[4]
Cambodia has denied that the Chinese navy would utilize the canal, responding to Vietnamese concerns.[4]
Funding
editThe project is expected to cost US$1.7 billion.[5] It is funded entirely by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC),[9] who is currently (March 2024) working on a feasibility study of the project.[10] The project will be developed under a BOT (build-operate-transfer) contract.[11]
The project was suspended in November 2024 due to funding uncertainties and environmental concerns. The project faced a major setback when China, expected to fund 49% of the initiative, expressed doubts about its viability amid a broader decline in Chinese overseas investments. Environmental concerns, particularly the potential impact on the Mekong Delta, led to demands from Vietnam for detailed assessments, which Cambodia has not yet released. The suspension underscores Cambodia's reliance on Chinese investment and raises questions about the feasibility of large-scale infrastructure projects in the region.[12][13]
See also
editNotes and references
edit- ^ "Tonle Bassac-Kep Waterway and Logistics Initiative named "Prek Chek Funan Techo Project", costs US$1.7B". Construction & Property News. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Tonle Bassac-Kep Waterway and Logistics Initiative named "Prek Chek Funan Techo Project", costs US$1.7B". Construction & Property News. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Why is Vietnam Worried About Cambodia's Mekong Canal Project?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ a b c "Cambodia maintains stance on giving canal details to Vietnam".
- ^ a b c Rim, Sokvy (2024-03-11). "BRI's Funan Techo Canal could steer Cambodia away from Vietnam and towards China, Politics News - ThinkChina". www.thinkchina.sg. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Cambodia breaks ground on China-funded canal and says it will be built 'no matter the cost'". Associated Press. August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Funan Techo Canal Development: Shifting Economic Currents in Southeast Asia". Construction & Property News. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Cambodia to divert Mekong trade via China-built canal, vexing Vietnam". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Why Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal Project is Worrying Vietnam". Vietnam Briefing News. 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Cambodia to divert Mekong trade via China-built canal, vexing Vietnam". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ Sereyrath, Sok (2023-12-27). "Techo Funan Canal Project to be Developed under BOT Contract". Cambodian People's Party-វិមាន៧មករា. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Cambodia's flagship canal in hot water as China funding dries up". Reuters. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ "Cambodia suspends canal project amid financial and environmental concerns". Financial Times. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.