Lao authorities have temporarily shut down a Vietnamese-owned iron ore mining operation in the northeastern part of the country after a washing reservoir overflowed and its wastewater polluted two local rivers, officials and area residents said.
Authorities have ordered the operation run by Tienhao Kaobang Co. to remain closed until the washing reservoir has been repaired, said people who live in Viengxay district of Houaphanh province and who have complained about pollution in the Nam Xang and Nam Poon rivers.
“The company is not allowed to operate until the reservoir repair is completed,” said a resident who declined to be identified out of fear of retribution.
The wastewater released discolored and muddied the water in the rivers and killed fish, he said.
Affected villagers said they are concerned that the contaminated water will affect their rice production and livestock that drink from the two rivers.
The mining industry has been a key driver of economic growth in the small, landlocked Southeast Asian nation for years, but it has had negative environmental impacts.
If tailings — leftover material from the processing of iron ore that can contain potentially toxic elements — are not properly managed and contained in washing reservoirs, they can pollute water sources, affect soil quality, harm aquatic life, and potentially pose health risks to humans.
Complaints
Villagers from seven communities downstream from the mine and their respective chiefs complained to district officials after the incident occurred on Jan. 12, the head of one village told Radio Free Asia.
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On Monday, Outhone Bounvilay, head of the Natural Resources and Environment Office of Viangxay district, told Lao National Radio that the discoloration was caused by an overflow of wastewater from the iron ore washing reservoir in Fongxang village.
He also said Lao officials have an agreement with the company to temporarily stop its operations until the problem is resolved.
When RFA called the Natural Resources and Environment Office to ask about compensation for villagers whose water resources are now polluted, a staffer said investigators were collecting water samples to analyze.
Another villager said she saw a post saying that the company would compensate residents, but it gave no further details.
Both district officials and the company are collaborating with local villages, including six situated along the Nam Xang River, to evaluate the impact and ensure fair compensation, the online Laotian Times said.
In a December 2024 incident, wastewater leaked from the same mining operations into the Nam Xang River, prompting authorities to urge the company to adopt stricter measures to prevent other incidents, the news outlet said.
Translated by Khamsao Civilize for RFA Lao. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Joshua Lipes.