Quang Tri delegation visits the Kaleum coal mine site in Laos Sekong

During the working program in Sekong (Laos) from January 29 to 31, Vo Van Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee of Quang Tri, along with the Quang Tri provincial working delegation, visited the Kaleum coal mine site (in Kaleum District, Sekong Province) on January 29.

The leaders of Quang Tri Province visited the Kaleum coal mine site. Photo: L.T

During the meeting, representatives from the Kaleum coal mine provided the Quang Tri delegation with an overview of the mining, production, and business activities in 2023 and the future direction.

The Kaleum coal mine, owned by the Phonesack Group (Laos), has reserves of about 800 million tons, of which 400 million tons are used as fuel for the company’s thermal power plant, and the rest is for mining purposes.

The total mining volume in 2023 was estimated at 7.7 million tons, with more than 2.5 million tons for export. The plan for 2024 is to mine a total estimated output of about 22.6 million tons. Approximately 19 million tons will be exported, and the rest will be sent to the Vietnamese market.

A corner of the Kaleum coal mine. Photo: L.T

Regarding the transportation and export of coal to Vietnam through the La Lay International Border Gate in Quang Tri Province, the representatives from the Kaleum coal mine suggested that the authorities of all parties implement the project to build a coal conveyor system from Laos to Vietnam, passing through the border area at the La Lay International Border Gate.

Quang Tri Province also needs to invest in upgrading and repairing the road from the La Lay International Border Gate to the west branch of Ho Chi Minh Road.

The Lao side also requested that the functional agencies at the La Lay International Border Gate extend the customs clearance time to 21 hours per day to facilitate businesses' importation of coal products.

Vo Van Hung, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, speaks at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Vo Van Hung, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, highly appreciated the existing potential and coal reserves at the Kaleum coal mine.He also mentioned that Quang Tri Province has focused on investing in and constructing various infrastructure projects related to the economic foundation.

One of these projects, the construction of a coal conveyor system from Laos to Vietnam through the La Lay International Border Gate, has been approved by the Vietnamese Government, and a resolution has been issued for its implementation, Hung said.He added that Quang Tri is urgently directing units and businesses to complete the approval procedures on the Vietnamese side.

"This working trip to Sekong Province is of great significance to propose to the Lao Government to promptly approve the project and complete the investment procedures. Regarding the proposals from the Kaleum coal mine, the Quang Tri provincial working delegation will compile a report to submit to the Provincial Party Standing Committee," Hung underlined.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Vo Van Hung, presents souvenir gifts to the representative of the Kaleum coal mine. Photo: L.T.

On January 30, the Vietnamese delegation will have an official working session with Sekong Province to foster cooperation between the two sides.

Le Truong - Khanh Khanh