The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) was created in 1999 during the second term of the Royal Government of Cambodia. Its main objectives address political and scientific issues:
- Establish the position of the government in terms of political and strategic orientations with respect to both the water resources availability for local development, and its sustainability at national and international scale,
- Carry out scientific research on the potential of underground and surface water resources to establish scientific knowledge on the topic,
- Set directions and roadmap at short, medium and long term with respect to water consumption to fulfill the needs of the country’s development, of the industry and preserve those of urban and rural populations,
- Control and monitor all activities consuming water to mitigate incurred risks,
- Prepare and draft laws and regulations linked to the use of water and control procedures,
- Gather documents and build a technical data about climate and hydrology regarding water uses nationally and abroad, find return on investment for the scientific research,
- Raise the awareness of the industry, NGOs, civilian communities and populations about the development and the exploitation of water resources, and advise them technically on the matter,
- Communicate and vulgarize innovative techniques with respect to the use of water use and its treatments,
- Collaborate and participate in the management of the Mekong Basin, considering both the management of water resources and meteorology,
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology is led by Minister HE THOR CHETHA, assisted by seven Secretaries of State and seven Under Secretaries of State.
The ministry is composed of ten departments and one technical center:
- Administration and Human Resources
- Planning and International Cooperation
- Finance
- Management and conservation of water resources
- Hydrology and river work
- Meteorology
- Irrigation
- Clean water and sanitation
- Engineering
- Community of water users
- Technical center of irrigation and meteorology.
The ministry has local representatives called "Provincial Department of MOWRAM", in the 24 provinces to ensure a local action. Among the 1400 employees working at the ministry, 662 people are located in Phnom Penh.
Missions of the Department of Meteorology:
- To prepare short, medium and long term plans for rehabilitation and development of meteorology abilities throughout the country.
- To establish and manage the Cambodian meteorological stations.
- To provide weather forecast in short and long time range for all concerned sectors.
- To predict abnormal meteorological phenomenon and emit alert to enable the setting up of protective procedures.
- To raise knowledge and communicate with national and international actors on meteorology technologies.
- To strengthen and broaden Cambodian cooperation on meteorology with meteorological organizations, United Nation agencies and World Meteorological Organization.
- To prepare annual reports on the situation of meteorology in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Weather Station: Radar Station TECHO SEN
In June 2010, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology decided to engage in the modernization of meteorological predications in Cambodia. The objective is to enable the department of meteorology to produce and broadcast weather forecasts thanks to high-performance facilities.
The decision has been taken to equip Cambodia with a "Doppler weather radar meteo 650C", fully financed by the Government of Cambodia. The project contract was signed on January 21, 2011, in Phnom Penh with the selected partner, MFI ( Meteo France International): staff training for radar maintenance, data analysis and processing and forecast production are insured by MFI.
The construction of the Radar Station TECHO SEN, located in Phnom Penh, began on 25th of March 2011 and was completed 11 months later on the 15th of February 2012. The height of the hexagonal building is 50.60 m (for a total height of 60.60 m if one includes the radar protection ball). It has a diameter of 24.48 m, 13 floors with 5 dedicated to offices and to the weather prediction center.
The station is operational since the 4th of April 2012.
