Participants gathered for the meeting in Khammuan province.

MAG Project makes land safe for 3,236 residents in Khammuan

A total of 1,579 unexploded ordnance (UXO) items were located and destroyed, and 139.17 hectares of contaminated land cleared in Boualapha district of Khammuan province, directly benefiting 3,236 residents, officials announced at the conclusion of a major clearance project on Monday.
The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) formally closed its Cluster Munition Survey and Clearance Project (Phase VIII) at a meeting held in Boualapha district. The initiative was funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) with a budget exceeding US$ 1.5 million, and implemented from August 2022 to December 2025.
The ceremony marking the end of the project was presided over by the Deputy Governor of Khammuan province and the Chairman of the Provincial UXO Management Committee, Mr Keoudone Butsingkhone. It was attended by representatives of central and local government agencies, international organisations, and village authorities.
Presenting the final report, the Head of MAG in Khammuan, Mr Sivone Vanvilay, emphasised that the project achieved significant progress under two main components - technical survey and UXO clearance.
During the technical Survey conducted across 12 villages, MAG identified 3,414 hectares of Confirmed Hazardous Areas (CHAs) and safely destroyed 475 items of UXO during survey operations.
The UXO Clearance component targeted nine villages across two districts. Clearance teams removed explosive remnants from 139.17 hectares of land, discovering and destroying 1,579 UXO items. The cleared land is now available for agriculture, housing, and community development, improving safety and economic opportunities for thousands of residents.
During the meeting, participants discussed future strategies to sustain and expand UXO survey and clearance efforts in the province.
 To officially mark the project’s completion, Mr. Keoudone Butsingkhone presented UXO Clearance Certificates to district and village authorities, confirming that the designated areas have been cleared and are safe for use. The successful completion of Phase VIII represents continued progress in addressing the legacy of unexploded ordnance in Khammouane Province and supports long-term rural development and community safety.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 12, 2026)