Cambodia halts deal for contested titanium mine

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- Cambodia's government has stopped plans to develop a titanium mine in a protected forest, officials said Tuesday, winning rare praise from environmentalists in a country better known for rampant deforestation.

Prime Minister Hun Sen had initially given approval for a Cambodian company to develop the titanium mine in the Southern Cardamom Protected Forest but reversed the decision at a meeting Friday with senior government officials, said Phay Siphan, a government spokesman.

"The prime minister decided not to permit the (titanium mining project) due to concerns of the impact on the environment and wildlife," the spokesman said.

In February, the government granted the concession to the United Khmer Group to develop and operate the titanium mine at a 50,400-acre (20,400-hectare) site in forested area in the western province of Koh Kong, according to government documents.

The forested area is home to one of Cambodia's largest wild elephant populations and more than 70 endangered and vulnerable species, according to the Washington-based conservation group Wildlife Alliance, which said it was "elated" by the decision not to go ahead with the mine.

"We applaud the courageous decision of the prime minister to see the greater value of the forest as it currently stands," said Suwanna Gauntlett, the group's head.

Cambodia's government has faced persistent criticism from conservationists for handing out logging and other concessions that favor politically connected businesses at the expense of forests, wildlife and the livelihood of local residents.

Earlier this month, Hun Sen said he planned to terminate 12 forestry concessions that his government had authorized in the past year. He did not elaborate.