Angkor Resources Corp. (TSXV: ANK, OTCQB: ANKOF) announced on September 30, 2026, that its wholly owned Cambodian energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources Co., Ltd., has received final approval from Cambodia's Ministry of Environment (MoE) to drill exploratory wells on four sub-basins within the Block VIII onshore oil and gas concession in southwest Cambodia. The approval marks a critical step for a project that could reduce Cambodia's complete reliance on imported hydrocarbon products.
The MoE approval covers the Kirirom, Bokor North, Bokor Central, and Bokor South sub-basins, which are located across Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, and Kampong Speu provinces. The decision follows an inter-ministerial review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and drilling permit held in Phnom Penh on July 14, 2026, which was attended by more than 26 representatives from five government ministries and three provinces. According to the company's announcement, EnerCam and its independent Cambodian consultant, Green Assessment Co., Ltd., guided the EIA through the review process.
With the environmental approval secured, EnerCam will now advance to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) with applications covering specific components of the drilling program, including downhole logging and well operations. Mike Weeks, President of EnerCam, said, "With approval now in hand on all four sub-basins, we move to the Ministry of Mines and Energy on the individual components of the drilling program, and that includes the well logging and the downhole tools. The Ministry of Environment went through this in detail with us - how each site is drilled, how the water and drilling fluid are handled, and how the land is restored if a well is not productive. It has been a thorough process with the Ministries and with the communities where we will be working, and it sets a precedent for how onshore drilling gets done in Cambodia as the sector develops."
EnerCam has already completed 350 line-kilometers of 2D seismic and defined its 4+1 drill program, which contemplates one exploration well in each of the four sub-basins, followed by a fifth well located based on the results of the first four. The company has been conducting due diligence on several potential drilling contractors ahead of a tender. The 70+ page tender document must be reviewed and approved by MME before publication, and once a contractor is engaged, mobilizing drilling equipment to the sites takes approximately three months.
The importance of this project extends beyond Angkor Resources. Cambodia imports 100% of its hydrocarbon-based energy products, making the discovery of a domestic supply a high priority for the Kingdom. EnerCam's program would be the first privately financed onshore drilling for oil and gas in Cambodia, and a discovery would begin to offset the nation's substantial spending on hydrocarbon imports. Block VIII covers approximately 4,095 square kilometers under a 30-year Production Sharing Contract with the Royal Government of Cambodia. A detailed outline of the sub-basins and the 4+1 drill targets can be viewed here. The original release is available on www.newmediawire.com. For more information, visit angkorresources.com.
As Cambodia's energy sector develops, this approval sets a precedent for environmental oversight and community engagement in onshore drilling. The successful drilling of these wells could transform Cambodia's energy landscape, reduce its trade deficit, and attract further investment in its nascent oil and gas industry. Angkor Resources has indicated it will provide regular updates on the drill program, drilling contractors, and well-planning progress.
