■ Laos

The Laotian government has suspended all potash exploration, survey and mining operations, including the projects under review, in the capital city of Vientiane. The National Assembly announced the decision on 1 July 2025 and it came into effect on the same day. Now, officials will inspect operational facilities, and, if violations are found, deny them the right to compensation. The rationale behind this is serious concerns about a potential impact of potash mines on the environment and the safety of Vientiane residents. The problem became acute after a landslide damaged residential properties in an adjacent village in June. The authorities warned that more collapses would probably follow, jeopardising Laos's political, economic and cultural centre. Market players believe the government ban will affect at least two Vientiane-based potash projects with the combined estimated capacity of 2.5 million tpy run by Chinese investors Yuntianhua and Zangee Mining.

 

In November 2024, the Laotian Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines reported that 18 companies had been granted permits to explore, survey, mine and process potash in the country. He specified that, with the exception of a few fertilizer plants under construction, only nine of them had obtained mining and processing licences for 11 projects. The other nine were either at the stage of feasibility studies or geological exploration or survey. The licences were granted for over 162,200 ha of potash deposits in Vientiane itself, Vientiane Province, Khammouane and Savannakhet Provinces. With 133.62 billion t of inferred potash resource, Laos is claiming to become Asia's potash industry and export hub.