Decree on the Tracking, Inspection, and Resolution of Gold Tailings, Ore Sand Mining, and Various Mineral Mining Management Issues in Rivers and Streams Throughout Attapeu Province

Article

Lao People's Democratic Republic
Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity, Prosperity

Attapeu Province No. 16.../Prov.
Attapeu, Date missing 7202.5

Order

On monitoring, inspection, and resolution of gold panning and placer gold mining issues,
and along various rivers, streams, and management of various mineral mining
within the entire Attapeu Province

- Pursuant to the Law on Local Administration (Amended) No. 68/NA, dated December 14, 2015, as stipulated in Chapter 1, Article 20 on rights and duties of the Provincial Governor and the Capital Governor;
- Pursuant to the Law on Minerals (Amended) No. 3/NA, dated November 3, 2017;
Pursuant to the Order of the Prime Minister No. 06/PM, dated 7/3/2025, on monitoring, inspection and resolution of issues regarding alluvial gold, rock and sand along rivers, streams and the management of mineral exploitation nationwide; in order to enhance the implementation of management, inspection and resolution of issues related to mineral development, including alluvial gold, ore rock suction and sand throughout Attapeu province, in accordance with laws and regulations issued from time to time.

The Governor issues the order:

1. Permanently cease the issuance of permits for the exploitation of alluvial gold and the exploitation of ore rock-sand associated with alluvial gold in all forms throughout Attapeu province. The relevant provincial departments and the administrative organizations of the 5 districts shall implement as follows:
1) Prohibit all departments, command headquarters (Public Security - National Defense) and administrative organizations of the 5 districts in Attapeu Province from creating any conditions in any form that facilitate the mining of placer gold in remote areas, in watershed areas that are development projects prone to flooding, as special projects, including the suction of gold-bearing rocks and sand using sieves, machinery, pumps, tools and equipment along riverbanks, rivers, streams, for the purpose of extracting placer gold, absolutely;

2) Strictly inspect and take measures against individuals and operators who illegally mine placer gold, suction gold-bearing rocks and sand in all cases (which are opportunistic extraction of gold) throughout the province.
3) Liaise and coordinate with the central level to monitor, inspect, and review the pilot gold mining project in Attapeu Province, which was previously authorized by the government, in order to transition the pilot project to normal implementation mechanisms correctly and in accordance with legal provisions and Notification No. 978/ຫສນຍ, dated May 22, 2024, strictly; in particular, before the company proceeds with continued mining and processing, the company must complete mineral exploration, economic-technical feasibility studies, and a detailed and comprehensive environmental impact assessment, and then submit them to the government and relevant ministries for issuance of a mining license to the company. At the same time,
Then, strictly cease the consideration of cases of transferring or replacing other land parcels to substitute for mineral concession projects within Attapeu Province;
2. Suspend the research, consideration, and submission of new mineral exploration and survey projects for metallic minerals until the end of the first term of the government, except for certain projects with specific approval from higher levels, and temporarily suspend the consideration of granting new non-metallic mineral exploration projects at the provincial level until further notice; as for projects already approved by the government and provincial administrative authorities in the past, assign them to relevant provincial departments and district administrative authorities to implement with attention as follows:

1) Increase strictness in management, monitoring, and inspection of exploration projects, feasibility studies
In the economic-technical aspect, mineral exploration and processing must strictly follow contracts, procedures, plans, technical standards, regulations, and comply with relevant laws;

2) Strengthen the management, monitoring, inspection, and remediation of environmental and social impacts of mineral survey, exploration, mining, and processing projects in Attapeu Province, strictly implementing the environmental management, monitoring, and inspection plans approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for each project;

3) Strengthen the management, monitoring, and inspection of mineral transportation, especially the management of load weights in various types of trucks and the fulfillment of budget obligations for maintenance and repair.
and upgrade each type of road, strictly following the regulations issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport;

3. Agree to establish a special committee at the provincial level, comprising relevant departments of the province, district, and public security-military personnel, to conduct political and ideological education, clarify the advantages and disadvantages and the impact on their lives and property, clarify the instability and problems of national security, carry out prevention of illegal mining activities throughout Attapeu province, and proactively perform tasks assigned with high responsibility; mainly including monitoring, inspecting, and addressing issues of illegal mining of gold nuggets, granite, ore, and sand
According to the guidelines, the sub-streams related to mineral exploration and mining management shall ensure peace throughout the province. At the same time, monitor and inspect the implementation of survey and exploration work of companies and pilot mining and processing projects that have been licensed by the government and provincial authorities in the past, ensuring compliance with the designated areas and contract terms; in case the special inspection committee finds individuals or companies whose activities are not in accordance with the designated areas and contract terms, strict and decisive measures shall be taken against violators in accordance with Decree No. 373/LB, laws, and relevant regulations; 4. Implementation measures
1) Assign the Special Committee for Preventing Illegal Mining to organize and implement Order No. 06/ນຍ, this Provincial Governor's Order, and other relevant regulations throughout Attapeu Province, reaching deeply into each district, each village, and all ethnic groups to ensure understanding and high consensus in implementing the said order;

2) Assign the Provincial Department of Home Affairs to coordinate with district administrations in researching and revising village regulations by incorporating topics of monitoring, inspection, and resolution of illegal mining of gold, placer gold, gemstones, other minerals, and sand along rivers and streams into village regulations, especially in target villages where exploration, prospecting, and mining projects are implemented.
minerals in each district;

3) Assign district administrative organs and village organizations to raise responsibility in proactively organizing the implementation of monitoring, inspection, and resolution of illegal mining of gold, other minerals, rocks, and sand along rivers and streams within their areas of responsibility, focusing on political-ideological education to ensure that organizations and all ethnic groups understand and have high consensus in strictly implementing orders issued by higher levels;

4) Assign the Agriculture and Forestry Office, Natural Resources and Environment Office, Energy and Mines Office, district administrative organs, and relevant offices to coordinate and cooperate in organizing the implementation of work
Village-level agricultural and forestry land use planning work, linked to occupation and settlement allocation, stable in target villages where mineral extraction occurs, and able to effectively stop indiscriminate illegal mining; shift to increasing production (cultivation and animal husbandry) in each village so that ethnic people have stable occupations and stable incomes, linked to building an independent and self-reliant economy that is tangible and sustainable; let district and village administrative bodies coordinate with companies to sign agricultural product supply contracts for mining projects located within their district and village boundaries;

5) Let the Department of Planning and Investment take the lead in coordinating with the Department of Energy and Mines,
The relevant departments of the province and district continue to monitor and inspect the exploration, prospecting, mining and processing of various minerals of companies according to the approval of the government and the provincial administration in the past; in case inspection finds that any project or company conducts exploration, prospecting, mining and processing of minerals not in accordance with the approval or violates the contract and causes impacts on the environment, society and nature, an order shall be issued to temporarily suspend the activities; thereafter, the Department of Planning and Investment and the Department of Energy and Mines shall issue a written notice to the said company for urgent and timely improvement and resolution of the problems, and also require the company to propose
This plan shall clearly and specifically propose corrective measures to address the impacts. If the company fails to rectify the problems within the stipulated timeframe, it shall report and submit to the government for consideration, which may order the suspension of the project or termination of the contract in accordance with laws and regulations.

6) The Department of Public Works and Transport shall take the lead, in coordination with the Department of Energy and Mines, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant departments, to review the environmental and social impacts related to the extraction and transportation of mineral resources. If the company fails to comply with the measures set out in the environmental management and monitoring plan and the road transport management regulations, strict action shall be taken in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
7) Assign the Department of Industry and Commerce, the Department of Finance, the Customs Office, and relevant sectors to actively monitor and inspect the importation of machinery, chemicals, explosives, and other auxiliary equipment that have not been authorized by the relevant sectors, imported through international and traditional border checkpoints, and placed for sale in shops within Attapeu Province; strictly implement measures in accordance with laws and regulations, and seize such items as evidence for legal proceedings;

8) Assign the Department of Public Works and Transport, the Department of Energy and Mines, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and district and village administrative authorities to monitor, inspect, and resolve issues related to the issuance of permits for rock and sand extraction along rivers and streams, and actively manage extraction activities.
Various minerals, in order to prevent the opportunistic illegal extraction of gold, tin, and other minerals, which would affect the environment, society, and nature;

9) The special committee shall proactively monitor, inspect, and patrol within the permitted areas for exploration, prospecting, mining, and processing of minerals in Attapeu Province; in case inspection reveals ethnic people and foreigners who are illegally and haphazardly mining gold and other minerals, they shall be detained for investigation and interrogation, and the relevant persons shall be handed over to district and village administrative authorities to take measures according to village regulations and legal rules, depending on the severity of each case based on the form of the offense; if the detainee is a foreigner,
The representative instructs to conduct a detailed investigation of the relevant persons, such as: use of passes, border crossings, business operations, and other activity records, then strictly conduct the investigation in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Lao PDR; after completing the investigation, the task force shall coordinate with the consulate or the authorities of the country where the relevant person resides, then hand over the case to the authorities of that country for strict legal proceedings;

10) When the task force conducts field patrol inspections, if only machinery and equipment used for illegal mining are found (no persons are found), they shall carefully study and consider
Decisively, such property may be confiscated as state property for use in other purposes, such as: serving agricultural production, serving the defense and public security forces, handed over to the field committee to be gathered at military units or public security offices, in nearby village groups, then recorded in a list to seek guidance from higher levels; in case of difficulty in gathering and it is not beneficial, it shall be destroyed on the spot, rendering it unusable in the future, and photographs shall be taken as evidence for reporting to higher levels;

11) Let departments, provincial-level equivalent organizations, provincial defense and public security commands, district administrative bodies, villages, and all sectors of society create favorable conditions and participate in monitoring, inspecting, and reporting on illegal mineral exploitation, affecting
Environment: Inform the provincial special committee regularly throughout the province for timely inspection and resolution of issues; in case inspection reveals illegal mining of alluvial gold and other minerals in any district, assign the district administration to designate relevant officials to conduct monitoring, inspection, and enforcement measures strictly in accordance with regulations and laws.

12) All companies that have obtained the right to sign agreements (MOU) from the government and provincial administration for surveying and exploring various minerals within Attapeu province, starting from 2025, before going to the field, must declare the list of personnel (clearly specifying positions), machinery, service vehicles, small aircraft (drones), chemicals, communication equipment, and the mineral research institute that is the contracting party.
Companies and other relevant parties shall notify the Department of Energy and Mines for consolidation and submission to the relevant sectors for study and consideration in accordance with laws, regulations, and management levels, then submit to higher levels for official approval of use;

13) All departments, provincial-level equivalent organizations, provincial military and police commands, district and village administrations, as well as individuals, officials, civil servants, military personnel, police, and all ethnic groups, are prohibited from facilitating, concealing information, colluding, or participating in illegal mining of minerals in a disorderly manner that does not comply with laws and regulations within their respective jurisdictions; if specialized officials discover, become aware of, or have evidence and references during inspection, they shall
Conduct investigations and prosecutions strictly in accordance with the law;

14) All departments, organizations equivalent to provincial level, provincial defense-security command, district and village administrations, as well as individuals, officials, civil servants, military, police, and ethnic groups, who facilitate and cooperate in providing information and reporting on illegal, disorderly, and unlawful mineral exploitation to the special task force within the province on a regular basis, shall be considered for commendation or reward policies as stipulated;

5. Assign all departments, organizations equivalent to provincial level, provincial defense-security command,
Govern the 5 districts, village administrative organizations throughout the province, and companies licensed by the government and the provincial administrative organization to proactively and thoroughly study the content of this order, urgently assume their responsibilities, and jointly organize implementation and dissemination deeply and extensively to each target group;

6. The special committee responsible for implementing this order has the duty to report regularly to the Governor and the central special committee in accordance with the coordination mechanism stipulated in Order No. 06/ນຍ;

7. All orders, decisions, notifications, and other regulations promulgated in the past that contradict the content of this order are hereby repealed; this order takes effect from the date of signature.
- Provincial office: 1 copy;
- Relevant departments at province and district levels: 1 copy each;
- Copies: 2 copies.

Thanousay Bansalith