Groundbreaking Ceremony for the 4 Million Tons/Year Carnallite Mining and 500,000 Tons/Year Potash Processing Project by SK Agricultural Technic and Yuntianhua Group in Vientiane, Laos
On the morning of October 29, 2022, the groundbreaking ceremony for the 4 million tons/year carnallite mining and 500,000 tons/year potash processing project by SK Agricultural Technic and Yuntianhua Group in Vientiane, Laos, was held. The ceremony was attended by Zhao Wenyu, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Laos, Daovong Phonekeo, Minister of Energy and Mines of Laos, and the Chairman of Sino-Lao Potash Mining Co., Ltd. of Yuntianhua Group, among others, who all delivered speeches. Other attendees included Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Laos, former Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Somsavat Lengsavad, representatives from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Lao-China Cooperation Committee, Vientiane city officials, and nearly 100 representatives from Chinese enterprises in Laos.
In his speech, Minister Daovong emphasized that Laos has established basic policies to support national development through the development of its advantageous energy and mineral resources, using and developing national resources effectively according to principles of sustainable development and environmental protection. To date, Laos has discovered 570 mineral deposits, including gold, copper, silver, nickel, tin, coal, potash, bauxite, gypsum, iron, gems, salt, lead, zinc, manganese, lime, and dolomite, across 68.46% of its land area, or 162,104 square kilometers. Since 1990, the Lao government has opened up investment in mineral development to both domestic and international investors. Currently, 253 companies are involved in 362 mineral projects, with 90 companies operating 136 mining and processing projects.
Counselor Zhao mentioned in his speech that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization and emphasized the essential requirement of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. This includes continuously providing new opportunities for the world through China’s new development. Currently, China is Laos’ largest source of investment and second-largest trading partner. China is willing to actively strengthen exchanges on governance experience with Laos, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and jointly build the “Belt and Road” with high quality.
SK Agricultural Technic Sole Co., Ltd.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Ruiyuan Richfield Sylvine Co., Ltd., and Yuntianhua Group’s subsidiary, Sino-Lao Potash Mining Co., Ltd., are collaborating on the Vientiane project. This ambitious initiative involves mining 4 million tons of carnallite annually and processing 500,000 tons of potash per year. By utilizing advanced technologies, the project aims to reduce the overall production cost of potash fertilizers, ensuring the products remain competitive in the international market. The project is set to become a benchmark for sustainable development, featuring full backfilling, zero pollution, and no subsidence, thus achieving green, safe, and efficient development and utilization of Laos’ potash resources.
