Mineral processing and products - Open Development Mekong

Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River

Satellite data show at least 27 new rare earth mines have opened across Laos since 2022, mostly in protected areas and many within the Mekong River Basin, raising transboundary pollution risks for Vietnam and the wider Mekong system. New data show a recent proliferation of rare earth mines across river basins in Laos, potentially posing […]

The post Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Mining the Mekong: Land and livelihoods lost to Cambodia’s thirst for sand

Some 45 kilometers, or 28 miles, up the Mekong River from Phnom Penh, Voi Thy sat and watched as 12 boats pumped sand from the riverbed. Another 11 boats, weighed low by their quarry of freshly mined sand, were making the glacial journey past her home in Roka Koang commune, Kandal province, to the capital. […]

The post Mining the Mekong: Land and livelihoods lost to Cambodia’s thirst for sand first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Large-scale logging in Cambodia’s Prey Lang linked to politically-connected mining operation

The early onset of Cambodia’s wet season had seen the rain fall thick over Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, turning freshly cut paths through the forest into a near-impassible slick of churned-up mud. But the torrential weather had done little to deter local loggers, who rode out of the beleaguered protected area carrying stacks of unprocessed […]

The post Large-scale logging in Cambodia’s Prey Lang linked to politically-connected mining operation first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Two dozen dead, 80 missing after jade mine landslide in Myanmar’s Hpakant

At least 23 people are dead and 80 are missing 11 days after a landslide at a jade mine in Myanmar’s Kachin state, but junta officials and the mine’s operators have yet to confirm the casualties and are seeking to keep the incident under wraps, aid workers and residents said Friday. The landslide occurred on […]

The post Two dozen dead, 80 missing after jade mine landslide in Myanmar’s Hpakant first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

China’s rare earth supplies disrupted by Myanmar tumult

Fears are growing of a global shortage of rare earth minerals used in the manufacture of high-tech devices as unrest in Myanmar following the February 1 coup disrupts exports to China. Chinese companies started complaining about delays in shipments of the minerals since mid-March, reportedly due to the deteriorating political and economic situation, which Chinese media […]

The post China’s rare earth supplies disrupted by Myanmar tumult first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Watchdogs Call For Transparency as Cambodia Strikes Oil

Civil society organizations and Cambodia’s banned opposition party have called on the government to release detailed information about revenue it is earning from the petroleum industry, days after the country struck oil following a decades-long quest. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on social media that Cambodia had extracted its first drop of crude […]

The post Watchdogs Call For Transparency as Cambodia Strikes Oil first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

PM warns Formosa against future environmental violations

Environmental protection must be considered the decisive factor in future operations of the Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Iron and Steel Co (FHS), Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said yesterday.Keep reading

The post PM warns Formosa against future environmental violations first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

State capital and major city in Chin State embrace industrial zones

Industrial zones will be built in two major cities in Chin State – Hakha and Paletwa, and local and foreign investment will be welcome, according to a state minister. U Salai I Thakin, Chin state minister for electricity, industry and road transportation, told The Myanmar Times that surveys are being conducted in the cities to ensure […]

The post State capital and major city in Chin State embrace industrial zones first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

SCG enters business start-up sphere

Yuttana Jiamtragan, vice president for corporate administration, said SCG’s corporate venture capital arm, AddVentures, would enable the conglomerate to diversify and strengthen its innovation portfolio through investment in and collaboration with regional and global start-ups, allowing SCG to improve its competitiveness in the digital age. The move was in response to the group’s realisation that […]

The post SCG enters business start-up sphere first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Hòa Phát to issue over 250 million shares

Steelmaker Hòa Phát Group (HPG) plans to issue over 250 million shares to raise capital for investment in the second phase of Hoà Phát Dung Quất iron and steel production complex. HPG will sell those shares at a price of VNĐ20,000 (US$0.8) per share, expecting to earn more than VNĐ5 trillion through the issue. A […]

The post Hòa Phát to issue over 250 million shares first appeared on Open Development Mekong.