WASHINGTON: Cambodia imported 2.55 million tons of petroleum in 2015, up 64 percent from 1.55 million tons in the year before, according to the data of the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday.
Despite a surge in oil quantity, the Southeast Asian country spent less money on oil purchase last year thanks to declining oil prices. The nation paid 926 million US dollars for oil last year, down 57 percent from 1.46 billion US dollars in the year before, the data said.
Cambodia totally imports petroleum from Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand as its seabed’s oil and gas have not yet been exploited. A liter of premium gasoline costs 0.8 US dollar in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, a 41 percent drop from about 1.35 US dollars at this time last year.
The country has planned to build a 5-million-ton oil refinery under a joint venture between Cambodian and Chinese companies. The project, estimated to cost 1.67 billion US dollars, will be constructed on the 80-hectare parcel within the boundary of Preah Sihanouk and Kampot provinces.
