Angkor Resources Corp. has moved a step closer to drilling Cambodia's first onshore oil and gas wells after its energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources Co., Ltd., presented its proposed 2027 work program to the Royal Government of Cambodia at a Joint Review Committee meeting on October 6, 2026. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Phnom Penh, marked a critical juncture for Block VIII, a 4,095-square-kilometer onshore license in southwest Cambodia, as it transitions from exploration planning to execution.
The significance of the announcement lies in the regulatory milestones EnerCam has already achieved. In 2026, the company received three key approvals: the CSR Program from the Ministry of Mines and Energy on May 13, the Health, Safety and Environment Manual on August 24, and the drilling Environmental Impact Assessment from the Ministry of Environment on September 15. These approvals clear the way for the company to proceed with tender preparation and drilling, which are central to the 2027 program.
EnerCam's 2027 plan targets the start of exploration drilling, with the North Bokor well slated as the first. The North Bokor closure is the largest of three mapped Bokor closures, with a mean area of 100 square kilometers. The program includes preparation of the drilling tender document, government review and approval before publication to bidders, bid selection in early 2027, drill pad construction, and mobilization of the rig and services. EnerCam also plans to import permits for downhole perforating charges and radioactive sources used in well logging, and has requested a support letter from the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the perforating charges in October 2026.
The technical basis for the drilling program has been strengthened by 2026 work. Oil seep samples collected in 2025 were analyzed in 2026, and results are consistent with a 2015 Schlumberger evaluation indicating a thermogenic source. A surface coal sample analyzed by the Institute for Energy Technology in Norway suggests the source rock is within the early to peak oil generation window. Field studies with students from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia helped define the North Bokor anticline and identified quartz arenite sandstones with 13–14% porosity at surface. Geophysics work included interpretation of key unconformity surfaces, depth conversion of seismic sections, and pre-stack amplitude analysis, which guided the selection of drilling locations.
Mike Weeks, President of EnerCam, said, “The feedback from the Ministry was positive, and the questions were the right ones for a project getting close to the drill bit. We’re now updating the 2027 budget and the 2026 actuals, so the Ministry has the full picture as we move to the tender and to drilling Cambodia’s first onshore wells.” The company also reported progress on its CSR commitments, including playground installations at 11 primary schools benefiting approximately 3,900 students, and latrine installations for poor families.
As Cambodia imports 100% of its hydrocarbon-based energy products, a domestic oil and gas discovery remains a high priority for the country. EnerCam's progress thus carries implications beyond the company, potentially reducing Cambodia's reliance on imports and spurring economic development. The company will provide further updates on the drilling tender, contractors, and well-planning progress at regular intervals. For more details, see the full release and visit Angkor Resources.
