Phukham and ban houayai operations socio-economic and health survey in project affected communities

Client

PHU BIA MINING

 

Location

Xaysomboun province, Lao PDR

 

Project Duration

August 2022 – Ongoing

 

Background

Phu Bia Mining (PMB) has two active mining operations in Xaysomboun Province, Lao PDR. The Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation is PBM’s first operation. It is located in Anouvong District, Xaysomboun Province, approximately 140 kilometres of Laos’ capital city, Vientiane. The Phu Kham Operation commenced with a heap leach gold operation in 2005 and expanded with an approximately 65,000 tonnes per annum copper-gold processing operation in 2013. During the June quarter 2022, the Phu Kham Operation produced 8,443 tonnes of copper, 7,628 oz of gold and 47,128 oz of silver[1].

In 2012, PBM opened the Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation at Ban Houayxai in Longcheng District, Xaysomboun Province, approximately 25 kilometres west of Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation. During the June quarter 2022, the Ban Houayxai Operation produced 19,923 oz of gold and 134,143 oz of silver[2].

PBM is committed to sustainable business practices, to help local communities develop sustainable socio-economic (SE) livelihoods that will continue beyond the life of its operations, and to building positive relationships with local communities. To that effect, PBM implements community relations and community development programs in local villages. PBM’s community development program focuses on education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, infrastructure, microfinance, and small business development. Program design responds to local community priorities and the Government of Laos’ National Socio-Economic Development Plan.

Pursuant to Annex G of the Concession Agreement, PBM is required to conduct socio-economic and health survey at various milestones after the Concession Agreement Effective Date. PBM has already conducted the socio-economic and health surveys for the Phu Kham Operation in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2015. The Ban Houayxai Operation undertook a full socio-economic and health survey in 2012 and 2015, and the socio-economic and health study has been reviewed and approved by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).

PBM now engages ESL Sole Co., Ltd (ESL) to conduct the Phu Kham and Ban Houayxai Operations Socio-Economic and Health Survey of project affected communities 2022, which covers three villages: Nam Gnone and Nam Mo villages, Anouvong District and Nasaysavang village, Longcheng District, Xaysomboun Province.

Services Provided

      The detailed scope of work for PBM is the survey and study will comprise a total of four main components as follows:

  • Village level interview;
  • Update of the village mapping;
  • Comprehensive socio-economic household interview, 100% sample; and
  • Child Anthropometric Survey, 30% sample.

The work will encompass all activities necessary to implement the socio-economic and health survey which includes survey preparation, field work, data analysis, report writing, review of draft deliverables, finalization of deliverables and upload the work completion to a Master Database of socio-economic survey.  

 

 

 

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