Workshop mulls sustainable development of Lao mining sector
Workshop mulls sustainable development of Lao mining sector
The mining sector, while undoubtedly doing a lot to improve the quality of life of its employees and contributing large amounts of royalties and tax to the government, could also provide more benefit to both parties.
This was the message passed on at a workshop hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Vientiane last week.
The theme was 100 perspectives of the sustainable development of the mining sector in Laos within the framework of the Lao-German Technical Cooperation project “Sustainable development of the mining sector”, financed by the German government.
Extracting minerals from the ground and then processing or selling them is a non-sustainable industry, but through efficient excavation methods and tight management controls the development of the industry itself can be made sustainable, participants heard.
The workshop was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Sinnava Souphanouvong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Bounthavy Sisouphanthong, Mines Department Director General, Dr Simone Phichit and Deputy Director, Mr Khamtan Vongphansipaseuth, and the Acting Director of the Geology and Minerals Department, Mr Khampha Phommakaysone.
About 100 participants from different government organisations and mining companies and educational institutions attended the workshop.
The objective was to respond to questions on mining development in Laos and to inform the public and interested parties about the mining sector and its contribution to socio-economic development, and the difficulties and challenges for the state in the management of the sector.
Participants stated their opinions on mining development in previous years, future trends in mining, sustainable development of the mining sector, benefits to the state from the mining sector, and state management of the mining sector.
The Lao mining industry is a priority sector for the country's socio-economic development and is an important resource for economic growth and community development as well as poverty reduction.
Laos currently has 242 companies investing in the mining sector, of which 168 are undertaking exploration and studies and 74 are excavating, Dr Sinnava said.
Land concessions for mining purposes cover 87,941 square kilometres or 37.34 percent of the country's total land area.
In the last five years, the mining sector has grown by 13.5 percent a year with a growing contribution of 8-11 percent to GDP value, he said.
The export value of minerals was about 55 percent of the total value in 2013, Dr Sinnava added.
To further develop the mining industry, the Ministry of Energy and Mines will closely cooperate with other sectors in monitoring and inspecting operations and management, and improve regulations that relate to natural resource protection.
