PM Sonexay Siphandone addresses a meeting at the headquarters of Electricite du Laos on Friday.

PM calls for effective management, investment in energy and mining
 
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on Friday called for leading officials in the Ministry of Energy and Mines to ensure more effective management of investment projects in the energy and mining sectors.
The premier made the call when speaking at a ministry meeting which he chaired at the EDL headquarters on Friday, after the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Phosay Sayasone, summarised the work of the ministry over the past year.
The minister cited improved management of the use of electricity within Laos, efforts to balance energy sources and regulate mineral exploration, and efforts to carry out effective assessments of companies with operations in the mining sector.
In addition, he reported on mining and mineral processing operations and the management of rare earth and iron ores.
In response, PM Sonexay instructed the energy and mining sectors to introduce stricter guidance in their respective areas of work, so that intended aims were achieved.
The Prime Minister also asked ministry leaders to focus on other aspects of work, including reviewing policies on electricity supply across all sectors of society to ensure these are consistent, contribute to socio- economic development, and are designed to ease poverty levels.
He called on the ministry to help fulfil the resolutions adopted by the government regarding increased use of electric vehicles as well as greater use of the clean energy sources available in Laos.
The ministry was also asked to evaluate the progress of mineral exploration and processing operations that have not yet been completed and also to determine specific criteria for the licensing of mining development and investment companies.
Most importantly, the premier instructed the ministry to comply with the Party’s resolution concerning the implementation of Directive No. 34/PM on the directions, goals and measures needed to build provinces as strategic units, develop districts as strong comprehensive units, and turn villages into development units.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to publicise the guidelines issued by Party Secretary General and state President Thongloun Sisoulith on achieving an “Independent Economy”, which he introduced when leading the 2023 review meeting and the 2024 planning meeting of the Ministry of Finance at the end of last year.
The meeting of the energy and mining sectors was also attended by Minister and Head of Office of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Alounxay Sounnalath; Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Phosay Sayasone; Deputy Ministers of Energy and Mines; key personnel from EDL, and other individuals involved in energy and mining.

By Times Reporters​
 (Latest Update March 4, 2024)