Three mining companies suspended from operations
Three mining companies suspended from operations
Vientiane provincial authorities have suspended three companies who illegally undertook gold mining in Maed district, a senior official reported.
Provincial Energy and Mines Department Director Mr Khambong Khonesavanh yesterday told Vientiane Times that three companies had their business operations suspended last month after the department found they had undertaken gold mining illegally.
He explained the companies were licensed for sand mining but in fact were using their machinery to extract gold from rivers which was against the law.
Authorities were paying attention to inspecting mining operations but this issue still occurred in the province, Mr Khambong added.
Currently, the province has a total of 63 mining companies, of which 11 companies were licensed by the central government and 52 companies licensed by provincial authorities.
The number of companies has increased by 22.22 percent since 2014.
The mining co mpanies are operating 88 businesses looking for 10 minerals, including gold, barite, zinc, iron, copper, coal, saltpetre, lime, tar sand and salt.
So far, a total of 683,937 hectares of land has been conceded for mineral processing and excavation, but the department observed that mining activities had not been implemented effectively.
In the past many projects had not begun their activities while some conducted mining operations slowly in an effort to tie-up concession areas.
“This impacts and retards the expansion of the mining sector in the province,” he said.
Mr Khambong said authorities, especially the department, would pay close attention to monitoring mining operations and processing to ensure that investors followed economic and technical feasibility studies as well as social and environmental impact evaluat ions and contracts.
In addition, the department will support the implementation of regulations and law in order to effectively manage natural resources to ensure environmental protection and promote construction of copper, gold and barite processing plants.
They will also continue to inspect both government and private sector electricity generators such as the Nam Samoy and Nam Phai hydropower projects to ensure they continue to benefit the province and investors.
