VIENTIANE, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- From 2016 to 2020, the development in Laos' mine sector decreased by 18.69 percent, after Lao National Assembly legislators ordered a "halt to mining operations altogether" in 2016.
Officials from the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines reported the figures on Tuesday at the sector's review meeting for 2016-2020.
According to local daily Vientiane Times report on Thursday, over the last five year period, 193 companies received mining permits with 69 undertaking surveys and exploration, 43 firms carried out feasibility studies, and 81 companies engaged in mining operations.
However, the number of companies undertaking mining developments decreased by 44 with mineral distribution down 13.31 percent and exports dropping 15.8 percent compared with the previous 2011-2015 period. Nevertheless, the mining sector handed over 734 million U.S. dollars in taxes and royalties to the Lao government over the last five years.
To date, geological and mineral surveys have been carried out on about 162,000 square kilometers or 68.4 percent of the country's total land area.
In 2019, exploration and processing feasibility studies were carried out on a 234.6 square kilometers gold mining site at Naty village in Longchaeng district, Xaysomboun province (some 130 km northeast of Lao capital Vientiane), after the government gave the green light.
Laos is home to the Sepon mine, which is considered as one of the largest gold mines in the world, the report said.
Officials from the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines reported the figures on Tuesday at the sector's review meeting for 2016-2020.
According to local daily Vientiane Times report on Thursday, over the last five year period, 193 companies received mining permits with 69 undertaking surveys and exploration, 43 firms carried out feasibility studies, and 81 companies engaged in mining operations.
However, the number of companies undertaking mining developments decreased by 44 with mineral distribution down 13.31 percent and exports dropping 15.8 percent compared with the previous 2011-2015 period. Nevertheless, the mining sector handed over 734 million U.S. dollars in taxes and royalties to the Lao government over the last five years.
To date, geological and mineral surveys have been carried out on about 162,000 square kilometers or 68.4 percent of the country's total land area.
In 2019, exploration and processing feasibility studies were carried out on a 234.6 square kilometers gold mining site at Naty village in Longchaeng district, Xaysomboun province (some 130 km northeast of Lao capital Vientiane), after the government gave the green light.
Laos is home to the Sepon mine, which is considered as one of the largest gold mines in the world, the report said.
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