Lane Xang Minerals Restricted Firm (LXML) has formally celebrated the grand opening of its Discovery Deeps 2 Mine (DD2) operation on the Sepon Gold-Copper Mine, marking one other main milestone within the firm’s transition towards trendy underground mining and its continued contribution to Lao PDR’s socio-economic improvement. In 2025, Sepon produced 7,000 t of copper and 6 t (212,000 oz) of gold. Deliberate manufacturing for 2026 is over 5.7 t of gold and 11,400 tonnes of copper. The general underground deposit will prolong the lifetime of mine to at the least 2033.
The DD1 and DD2 mines use underground stoping with the mining fleet together with three Sandvik two growth DD421 jumbos and Caterpillar 740 ADTs. The corporate additionally makes use of distant management R2900G Caterpillar LHDs by way of teleremote know-how provided by Epiroc-owned RCT.
The ceremony was chaired by H.E. Santiphab Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Lao PDR, with the participation of H.E. Chansaveng Bounyong, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce; H.E. Daovone Xaisoulien, Chairwoman of the Savannakhet Provincial Administration Committee and Deputy Secretary of the Savannakhet Provincial Social gathering Committee; and senior authorities officers from central, provincial and district ranges.
Representing LXML and Chifeng Gold had been Gao Bo, Vice Chairman and CEO of Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Group Ltd; Tianhang Zhang, Vice President of Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Group Ltd; Zhou Xinbing, Appearing President of LXML; Guanghui Zhao, Normal Supervisor of LXML; representatives from Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd; Saman Aneka, LXML Managing Director, together with LXML Vice Normal Managers, managers, staff, contractors and neighborhood representatives.
DD2 is the second underground mine improvement at Sepon, constructing on the profitable improvement of DD1, recognised as the primary trendy underground mine in Lao PDR. The opening of DD2 LXML says represents a strategic step in extending Sepon’s future, strengthening ore provide, supporting future manufacturing, creating extra employment and abilities improvement alternatives for Lao folks, and producing additional income and advantages for the Authorities and native communities.
Because the graduation of operations, Sepon has made a big contribution to Lao PDR. LXML has contributed over US$1.9 billion in direct income to the Authorities by way of taxes, royalties and dividends, in addition to roughly US$194 million in oblique advantages by way of employment, coaching, native enterprise alternatives, infrastructure enchancment, well being, schooling, UXO clearance, neighborhood improvement and environmental programmes.
Talking on the occasion, Gao Bo reaffirmed Chifeng Gold’s long-term dedication to Sepon and Lao PDR, highlighting the Group’s technique to advance operational excellence, trendy mining know-how, inexperienced and ecological mining, digital mining, security, environmental safety and sustainable worth creation.
Guanghui Zhao, Normal Supervisor of LXML, described DD2 as a milestone not just for Sepon but in addition for the mining business in Lao PDR, noting that accountable mining goes past producing copper and gold; it’s about creating lasting advantages for the Lao folks, supporting communities and driving nationwide prosperity.
Saman Aneka, Managing Director, underlined LXML’s long-standing neighborhood contribution, together with the Neighborhood Belief Fund of US$750,000 per yr, assist for deprived households, vocational coaching, and native enterprise improvement, with native companies producing greater than US$50 million over the previous 23 years.
Andrew Brown, Vice Normal Supervisor highlighted that DD2 displays the longer term path of worldwide mining, with underground mining serving to cut back floor disturbance, restrict waste rock, enhance effectivity and protect extra of the encompassing setting. He additionally emphasised that trendy underground mining requires expert Lao operators, technicians and leaders, supported by way of structured coaching, simulator studying and supervised sensible expertise.
In his remarks, H.E. Chansaveng Bounyong congratulated LXML on this essential milestone and acknowledged Sepon’s long-standing contribution to the socio-economic improvement of Lao PDR, together with authorities income, infrastructure improvement, job creation for Lao folks, technical information switch and neighborhood improvement. He famous that Sepon’s continued sturdy efficiency, together with its A+ analysis, displays the corporate’s consideration to laws, technical requirements, environmental safety and social duty.
He inspired LXML to proceed complying strictly with legal guidelines and laws, prioritising security, occupational well being, environmental and social administration, making use of trendy know-how, growing Lao human assets, and strengthening neighborhood improvement, schooling, well being, infrastructure and employment alternatives.
The opening of DD2 the assertion mentioned displays the sturdy partnership between the Authorities of Lao PDR, Chifeng Gold, LXML and native communities. Greater than a mine opening, DD2 represents confidence in the way forward for Sepon, the continued development of contemporary underground mining in Lao PDR, and a shared dedication to creating long-term worth for the nation. LXML acknowledged: “By secure operations, accountable funding, abilities improvement and community-focused progress, Sepon continues to display how mining can assist nationwide improvement whereas delivering significant advantages to folks, communities and future generations.”
