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Cambodia Aims to Build First Oil Refinery Within Three Years

Terry Felix​​​​   On March 5, 2026 - 4:42 am​   In Asia Pacific   1mn Read
Cambodia Aims to Build First Oil Refinery Within Three Years Cambodia Aims to Build First Oil Refinery Within Three Years

PHNOM PENH, March 5, 2026 — Cambodia could build its first crude oil refinery within the next three years, Energy Minister Keo Rottanak said on Wednesday, as the government explores investments to strengthen the country’s energy supply.

Speaking to reporters during the ASEAN–Cambodia Business Summit 2026 in Phnom Penh, Keo Rottanak said Cambodia is currently in discussions with potential investors to develop a domestic oil refinery.

Cambodia currently does not have a refinery and relies largely on imported petroleum products, limiting its ability to store and refine crude oil domestically.

“If everything proceeds as planned, the refinery could take shape in around three years,” the minister said.

Keo Rottanak noted that establishing a refinery requires a sufficiently large market and economic scale, which Cambodia had not previously reached.

The government has previously explored similar plans, but earlier proposals did not proceed due to the country’s relatively small domestic market at the time.

Officials say the project would help Cambodia strengthen energy security and better meet growing domestic fuel demand as the economy expands.

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