Boosting the development prospects of Cambodia and Koh Rong Island, a $300 million international airport is expected to be constructed in five years.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Secretariat of Cambodian Civil Aviation and Royal Group Koh Rong Development Company yesterday. The master plan for the Koh Rong International Eco-Tourism Airport was also accepted.

Mao Havannal, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Cambodian Civil Aviation, signed the MoU with Neak Oknha Kith Meng, chairman and CEO, Royal Group Koh Rong Development Company, in a ceremony at the Cambodiana Hotel.

The Royal Group Koh Rong Development Company, a Royal Group Co., Ltd. subsidiary, will build the international airport in Preah Sihanouk province’s Koh Rong city.

Havannal said that the development project is under the framework of a multi-purpose joint venture
for the whole of Koh Rong city, which is a private sector investment and is similar to the investment of Union Development Company (UDG) in Dara Sakor area.

 
 
“This project is in line with the vision, plan, policy and strategic direction of the Royal Government of Cambodia,” he said.

The airport development will be under the form of a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) project within the framework of Build-Own-Operate (BOO).

The plan mentioned that the Koh Rong 4C Aerodrome is on Koh Rong Island in northwest of Sihanoukville.

During his speech, Meng mentioned that the Royal Group signed a 99-year lease with the Cambodian government to develop the island.

As part of the development plans, the 5-star Royal Sand Hotel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 23, 2018.

“On July 14, 2020, Royal Group Koh Rong Development Company signed an agreement to construct a 70km concreted road with an investment of $35 million. 50km of concrete road has been built,” Meng said.

According to the discussion with the Royal Group Koh Rong Development Company and Cambodia Lan Cang Jiang Engineering Co Ltd, the Phase I master plan is considered in accordance with the throughput of 275,314 passengers per year.

It said the project would meet the needs of 531,858 passengers throughput per year after the completion of its final development.

As per estimates, the airport would receive daily passengers of 352 in Phase I, which is the first 10 years. It is expected to reach 680 daily passengers in Phase II.

Similarly, the total annual arrivals in Phase I are projected to be 137, 657 passengers and 265,929 passengers in Phase II.

“The runway has a 120m displaced threshold on the primary land direction, and the LDA is 2280m, TODA is 2400m in that direction. On the secondary direction, the LDA and TODA are 2400m,” the master plan noted.

On the passenger terminal, it said that the Phase I terminal area is in the middle of the runway. “The design of the terminal should reflect the local characteristics in architectural style and are based on the peak four-hour passenger figures. According to the forecast, the total area of the terminal is 4000 sq mt soon and 7000 sq mt in Phase II, which is more than the minimum required. The departure terminal and arrival terminal are constructed separately, and the single floor design is adopted, which is economical and suitable for the low traffic volume at Koh Rong.”

Regarding the navigation system planning, it said: “The new runway is designed according to the visual runway, and a simple approach lighting system is set at the main landing end of the runway. A simple approach lighting system is set within 420m outside the entrance of the main landing end of the runway. The approach lights are 4m long barrettes with a longitudinal spacing of 60m.”

It may be noted the CDC signed the lease agreement of Koh Rong Island with Royal Group on Feb 2008.