(KPL) The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Vietnam National Chemical Group held a conference in the Lao capital of Vientiane on August 19 to approve a project for mining potassium in Khammouan province.
The conference was attended by representatives of the Vietnamese embassy in Laos, the Vietnam-Laos Sub-committee, and Lao central and local authorities.
Participants heard a feasibility report on the project, which will cover a total area of 10 square kilometers and is designed to mine 320,000 tonnes of potassium a year.
According to the report, it will take four years to build the US$400 million project, which will use state-of-the-art environmentally friendly technology.
Vietnam now has to import 800,000-1.2 million tonnes of potassium every year for agricultural production. Once it is put into operation, the mine will create thousands of local jobs and ensure the supply of potassium for both Vietnam and Laos, thus reducing their dependence on imported materials.