Ban Houyxai underground mine development teams gather for a group photo in front of the Ban Houayxai decline mine tunnel.

Phu Bia Mining continues positive progress to develop Ban Houayxai underground mine

Phu Bia Mining (PBM) is continuing its positive progress at the company’s Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation’s underground mine, with the recent final cut for the ‘exploration decline mine development works’ in the Ban Houayxai underground tunnel.
Phu Bia Mining began its Ban Houayxai underground mine development in 2023 to further explore high-grade gold resources beneath the existing open pit.

Diamond drilling to define mineral resources began in early August. This helps pinpoint the exact location, tonnes and grade of the orebody, as well as future mine design and mining potential.

The team comprised a multi-national PBM Owner’s team of mine experts, ZCM Chinese Mining Contractor and our own Lao employees driving PBM’s 40 tonne underground mine trucks. The underground works have been completed to a high standard, and mined over 138,000 tonnes of material from the tunnel without any reportable injuries – a great achievement.
They completed their final cut with a new monthly development record set in August 2024 – advancing 181 metres, bringing the total tunnel length to 1,441 metres.
The PBM Mineral Resource Development team and Boart Longyear contractor teams began the resource development drilling on 9 August. This will determine and define the mineral resource (gold, silver) and future potential ore reserves.
The Ban Houayxai underground mine, when in operation, is forecast to offer a multiple-year, high-grade ore resource with the potential to extend the life of the Ban Houayxai Operation well into the next decade.
The Ban Houayxai underground gold mine will also bring more positive social and economic benefits to Laos and in particular to Xaysomboun province.
These benefits include PBM’s annual community development fund increasing to US$750,000 annually, helping to support infrastructure, livelihoods and community development projects in Xaysomboun province.
PanAust Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Daling Zheng, spoke about the positive progress of PanAust’s parent company, Guangdong Rising Holding Group’s (GDRH), underground gold mine development in Laos.
“This is the first underground gold mine development in Laos for our shareholder. PanAust and GDRH believe that the Ban Houayxai Operation has more mineral deposits at depth in some underexplored places in and around the Ban Houayxai pit.
“As this is a first for the company, we would like to thank the Ban Houayxai underground mine development teams, who have not only completed this project with great skill and professionalism, but I am delighted to report there were no injuries to employees. We would also like to thank the multiple departments who continue to provide their support during this extensive and challenging project.”
Mr Chanpheng added: “The mineral resource we are defining at the Ban Houayxai underground mine development is just the beginning. The potential for future discoveries from our drilling programme will add more value to the Ban Houayxai Operation and can continue to support our long-term growth in Laos.”

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update September 9, 2024)