"Calls to tighten mining safety regulations in Laos" 7 October 2024

The aftermath of the rare earth mining leak in Laos’ northern province has raised villagers’ fears about using contaminated rivers...

...in February, Laos’ largest rare earth mining site in northern Houaphanh province leaked chemicals and tainted the water in local tributaries and the 325-kilometer-long Nam Sam River shared by Laos and Vietnam. The leak polluted the water and fish, sickened several people, and affected hundreds of families in remote districts outside the main city of Sam Neua.

They pleaded with the Lao government to provide assistance and cancel the 198-square-kilometer mining project, which was co-developed by the Chinese and Lao governments...

Although the leakage has now stopped and the cleanup process was put in place immediately after the incident, many villagers question its effectiveness...

Since the chemical leak, Vanh has had to work twice as hard to be able to buy food from the city and necessary supplies for her children. She could not grasp what rare earth mining was when it was explained to her. The authorities told her it was a “community development project.”

Beijing Platinum World Technology Development, a subsidiary of the Southern Rare Earth International Trade Company — one of the six largest state-owned rare earth mining enterprises in China — invested more than $21 million in the Houaphanh mining site. The company owns up to 55% of the investment in the project, while Phadang Hungheuang Huaphan Mining Sole Company, representing the state enterprise Lao Mining Development, owns 45%...

The Lao and the Chinese companies could not be reached for comment regarding the aftermath of the chemical leak incident.

However, both companies have committed to compensating the affected villages and constructing a rockfill dam to prevent leakage from the mining site into downstream tributaries—although the plan has not yet been publicly revealed.

Despite the significant risks to the environment and local communities’ livelihoods, the mining operation continues...

“Neither I nor the people in my village were informed about the project, even though our village is downstream, while the mining site is upstream,” said a village chief in Houaphanh...