Safety, Health & Environment
Safety
At LXML, we always put Safety First. The safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate always come first.
Our working environment potentially exposes our workforce and the communities in which we operate to risks.
Our objective is to identify risks and implement appropriate controls.
Our assessment of safety risks also includes potential community impacts and controls to manage broader impacts from mining operations.
Health and Occupational Hygiene
LXML Occupational Health and Hygiene implements an OH&S program based on the science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace conditions in preventing illness related to work activities.
LXML occupational hygienists use environmental monitoring and analytical methods to detect the extent of worker exposure; who then help departments to employ appropriate controls to reduce potential health hazards.
Environment
Our approach to environmental management is based on a thorough assessment, mitigation, and management of risks across all our operations, including exploration, development, processing, rehabilitation, and closure.
LXML is committed to achieving high standards of environmental protection and complies with Lao and international regulations.
Water used in processing activities is appropriately treated and storage facilities are maintained to international standards to ensure safety. Water released to the environment is tested at approximately 180 key points around Sepon mine to ensure compliance and safety. LXML regularly conducts awareness raising workshops with communities and stakeholders on water management and issues of concern to ensure transparency and compliance.
We acknowledge that high standards in environmental management are a key factor in securing and maintaining our social license to operate.
On 18 August 2022, Lane Xang Minerals Limited (LXML), and Lao German Technical College (LGTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to provide technical scholarships for communities in Vilabouly District near Sepon mine.
Apprentices selected for the program will receive vocational training in electrical, mechanical, fabrication, crane operations, automotive, and auto-electrical trades.
The program will continue from 2022 until 2026. Between 2015 and 2018, eighteen Lao apprentices completed a five-year Australian Certificate III Trade qualification and a Lao Diploma of Technical Training. The graduates received valuable skills to contribute to the development of the Lao PDR.
Mr Saman Aneka, LXML Managing Director, signed the MoU with Mr Khamsavay Yommilavong, Director of Lao-German Technical College. Mr Nouphan Oudsa, Director General of Vocational Education Department, Ministry of Education and Sports was also present at the important events.
“I’m proud of LXML’s contribution to training and development to build better livelihoods for future generations” said Mr Aneka “The skills and experience gained by participants will contribute to Sepon’s operations and to the Lao PDR.”
Since operations commenced in 2003, LXML has invested millions of dollars in training, scholarships, apprentices, traineeship, and internships. More than 105 Lao participants graduated from the apprenticeship program, and 36 professionals graduated from overseas higher education scholarships.
Up to June 2022, LXML has provided 23,000 training hours to Lao employees through internal, external, on-the-job training, and overseas study. In the second half of 2022, LXML will reinstate its popular Supervisor and Leadership Development programs to support the next generation Lao mining professionals.
Lane Xang Minerals Limited is the only mining operation in the Lao PDR consistently rated A+ by the Ministry of Energy and Mines for its commitment to social and economic development, health and safety, environmental protection, and maintaining international standards.
Since production commenced in 2003, Sepon Mine contributed over US$1.6 billion in taxes, royalties, and dividends, in addition to hundreds of millions of dollars in employment, training, community and local business development. The mine employs approximately 5,000 local people.
ບໍລິສັດ ລ້ານຊ້າງ ມິເນໂຣນສ໌ ລິມິເຕັດ ຝຶກອົບຮົມ ຊ່າງສີມືແຮງງານລາວ
24 ສິງຫາ 2022
ໃນວັນທີ 18 ສິງຫາ 2022, ບໍລິສັດ ລ້ານຊ້າງ ມິເນໂຣນສ໌ ລິມິເຕັດ (ລຊມລ) ແລະ ວິທະຍາໄລເຕັກນິກລາວ-ເຢຍລະມັນ ໄດ້ເຊັນບົດບັນທຶກຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈ ໂຄງການຝຶກອົບຮົມນັກສຶກສາຊ່າງສີມື ເພື່ອສະໜອງທຶນການສຶກສາດ້ານເຕັກນິກໃຫ້ແກ່ຊຸມຊົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນອ້ອມຂ້າງບໍ່ຄໍາ-ທອງເຊໂປນ ໃນເມືອງວິລະບູລີ.
ນັກສຶກສາຊ່າງສີມື ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການຄັດເລືອກສໍາລັບໂຄງການ ຈະໄດ້ຮັບການຝຶກອົບຮົມວິຊາຊີບ ໃນຂະແໜງ ການ ເຕັກໂນໂລຊີລົດຍົນ, ໄຟຟ້າເອເລັກໂຕຣນິກ, ຈັກກົນໂຮງງານ, ກົນຈັກໜັກ ແລະ ໂລຫະກຳວິທະຍາ.
ໂຄງການນີ້ຈະຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດນັບຕັ້ງແຕ່ປີ 2022 ແລະ ສິ້ນສຸດໃນປີ 2026. ລະຫວ່າງປີ 2015 ແລະ 2018, ນັກສຶກສາຊ່າງສີມີ ຈໍານວນ 18 ຄົນ ໄດ້ສໍາເລັດຫຼັກສູດ 5 ປີ ໃບປະກາສະນີຍະບັດຂັ້ນ III ຂອງປະເທດອົດສະຕຣາລີ ແລະ ເຕັກນິກວິຊາຊີບຊັ້ນສູງຂອງລາວ, ຜູ້ສໍາເລັດຫຼັກສູດໄດ້ຮັບທັກສະທີ່ມີຄຸນຄ່າ ເພື່ອປະກອບສ່ວນໃນການພັດທະນາ ສປປ ລາວ,
ທ່ານ ສະໝານ ອະເນກາ, ຜູ້ອໍານວຍການໃຫຍ່ ບໍລິສັດ ລຊມລ ລົງນາມໃນບົດບັນທຶກຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈຮ່ວມກັບ ທ່ານ ຄໍາສະໄຫວ ຍ່ອມມີລາວົງ ຜູ້ອໍານວຍການວິທະຍາໄລເຕັກນິກລາວ-ເຢຍລະມັນ ໂດຍການໃຫ້ກຽດເປັນສັກຂີພິຍານໂດຍທ່ານ ໜູພັນ ອຸດສາ ຫົວໜ້າກົມອາຊີວະສຶກສາ, ກະຊວງສຶກສາທິການ ແລະ ກິລາ.
ທ່ານ ສະໝານ ອະເນກາ ກ່າວວ່າ: “ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີຄວາມພາກພູມໃຈໃນການປະກອບສ່ວນຂອງ ລຊມລ ເພື່ອຝຶກອົບຮົມ ແລະ ພັດທະນາ ເພື່ອສ້າງຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ທີ່ດີຂຶ້ນຂອງຄົນຮຸ່ນໃໝ່”. ທ່ານ ກ່າວຕື່ມອີກວ່າ “ທັກສະ ແລະ ປະສົບການທີ່ນັກສຶກສາໄດ້ຮັບ ຈະປະກອບສ່ວນໃນການດໍາເນີນງານຂອງບໍ່ຄໍາ-ທອງເຊໂປນ ແລະ ປະກອບສ່ວນໃສ່ພັດທະນາ ສປປ ລາວ”.
ນັບຕັ້ງແຕ່ເລີ່ມດໍາເນີນງານໃນປີ 2003, ລຊມລ ໄດ້ລົງທຶນຫຼາຍລ້ານໂດລາສະຫະລັດ ໃສ່ການຝຶກອົບຮົມ, ໃຫ້ທຶນການສຶກສາ, ຊ່າງສີມື, ນັກຮຽນ ແລະ ນັກສຶກສາຝຶກງານ. ນັກສຶກສາຫຼາຍກວ່າ 105 ຄົນ ສໍາເລັດການສຶກສາຈາກໂຄງການນັກສຶກສາຊ່າງສີມື ແລະ 36 ຄົນ ສໍາເລັດການສຶກສາລະດັບອາຊີບຈາກຕ່າງປະເທດດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາຂັ້ນສູງ.
ມາຮອດເດືອນມິຖຸນາ 2022, ລຊມລ ໄດ້ສະໜອງການຝຶກອົບຮົມໃຫ້ແກ່ພະນັກງານລາວກວ່າ 23,000 ຊົ່ວໂມງ ດ້ວຍການຝຶກອົບຮົມພາຍໃນ, ພາຍນອກ, ໃນໜ້າວຽກ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດ, ໃນທ້າຍເຄິ່ງປີ 2022, ລຊມລ ຈະຟື້ນຟູຫຼັກສູດທີ່ເປັນທີ່ນິຍົມ ກໍ່ຄືໂຄງການພັດທະນາຫົວໜ້າຄຸມງານ ແລະ ການເປັນຜູ້ນໍາ ເພື່ອສະໜັບສະໜູນນັກວິຊາການຂຸດຄົ້ນແຮ່ມືອາຊີບຮຸ່ນໃໝ່ຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ.
ບໍລິສັດ ລຊມລ ເປັນບໍລິສັດດໍາເນີນການຂຸດຄົ້ນແຮ່ ໜຶ່ງດຽວໃນ ສປປ ລາວ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການຈັດອັນດັບ ປະເພດ A+ ຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ ຊຶ່ງອອກໃຫ້ໂດຍກະຊວງພະລັງງານ ແລະ ບໍ່ແຮ່ ສຳລັບຄວາມມຸ່ງໝັ້ນໃນການປະກອບສ່ວນຕໍ່ການພັດທະນາເສດຖະກິດ ແລະ ສັງຄົມ, ສຸຂະພາບ ແລະ ຄວາມປອດໄພ, ປົກປັກຮັກສາສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ແລະ ຮັກສາມາດຕະຖານການດຳເນີນງານໃນລະດັບສາກົນ.
ນັບຕັ້ງແຕ່ເລີ່ມການຜະລິດໃນປີ 2003, ບໍ່ຄຳ-ທອງເຊໂປນ ປະກອບສ່ວນເປັນລາຍຮັບໂດຍກົງໃຫ້ແກ່ລັດຖະບານລາວກວ່າ US$1.6 ຕື້ ຈາກການຈ່າຍອາກອນຕ່າງໆ, ພາສີຊັບພະຍາກອນທຳມະຊາດ ແລະ ເງິນປັນຜົນ, ນອກຈາກນັ້ນຍັງປະກອບສ່ວນຫຼາຍຮ້ອຍລ້ານໂດລາສະຫະລັດ ຈາກການສ້າງວຽກເຮັດງານທຳ, ການຝຶກອົບຮົມ, ການພັດທະນາຊຸມຊົນ ແລະ ທຸລະກິດທ້ອງຖິ່ນ. ບໍ່ຄຳ-ທອງເຊໂປນ ສ້າງວຽກເຮັດງານທຳໃຫ້ແກ່ຄົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນຫຼາຍກວ່າ 5000 ຄົນ.
Chifeng recognizes ten outstanding teams from LXML that contributed to achieving the company’s strategic targets.
At Chifeng Gold’s annual meeting on 22 January 2022, the Executive Committee acknowledged the outstanding performance of several work teams at LXML Sepon with excellence and achievement awards.
LXML Sepon also received an ‘Outstanding Subsidiary’ award.
All LXML employees and teams can be proud of your contribution to success. Please continue to work together, plan, and safely achieve our targets in 2022.
LXML’s environmental standards are recognized as an example of excellence in Laos. We monitor environmental risks to save the #OnlyOneEarth we live in, including water, air quality, waste management, and protecting nature and biodiversity around our mine and communities.
Everyone has a role to play in saving the #OnlyOneEarth we live in. Let’s hear how our employees do their part.
ມາດຕະຖານດ້ານສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມຂອງ ລຊມລ ເປັນທີ່ຮັບຮູ້ຢ່າງກວ້າງຂວາງວ່າ ເປັນຕົວແບບທີ່ດີເລີດໃນ ສປປ ລາວ. ບໍລິສັດ ໄດ້ເອົາໃຈໃສ່ຕິດຕາມຄວາມສ່ຽງຕໍ່ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ເພື່ອປົກປ້ອງໂລກພຽງໜຶ່ງດຽວ ທີ່ພວກເຮົາອາໄສຢູ່ #OnlyOneEarth, ໃນນັ້ນແມ່ນລວມທັງ ຄຸນນະພາບນ້ຳ ແລະ ອາກາດ, ພ້ອມທັງການຄຸ້ມຄອງສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອ, ການປົກປ້ອງທຳມະຊາດ ແລະ ຊີວະນາໆພັນຢູ່ອ້ອມຂ້າງບໍ່ຄຳ-ທອງ ເຊໂປນ ແລະ ຊຸມຊົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນເຈົ້າພາບ.
ທຸກໆຄົນມີບົດບາດໃນການຮັກສາ #ໂລກພຽງໜຶ່ງດຽວ ທີ່ພວກເຮົາອາໄສຢູ່. ເຮົາມາຟັງນຳກັນວ່າ ພະນັກງານຂອງ ລຊມລ ປະກອບສ່ວນແນວໃດ.
On International Women in Engineering Day let’s hear from a few women engineers.
At LXML Sepon, we acknowledge the experience and effort of all women in mining, engineering, and the amazing career opportunities available in this exciting industry.
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) celebrates its 9th year on 23 June 2022, offering women a profile when they are still hugely under-represented in the profession. As of June 2021, only 16.5% of engineers are women. We should encourage more capable young women and girls to take up engineering careers and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women engineers throughout the world.
This year, INWED’s theme “Inventors & Innovators”, looks toward the future, focusing on the contribution of inventors and innovators who will change industry for the better.
ໃນໂອກາດວັນແມ່ຍິງສາກົນດ້ານວິສະວະກຳ, ມາຮ່ວມຮັບຟັງ ຄຳຄິດເຫັນຂອງວິສະວະກອນຍິງຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງຂອງພວກເຮົາ.
ຢູ່ທີ່ບໍ່ຄຳ-ທອງເຊໂປນ, ພວກເຮົາຮັບຮູ້ເຖິງປະສົບການ ແລະ ຄວາມພະຍາຍາມ ຂອງແມ່ຍິງທັງໝົດ ໃນອຸດສະຫະກຳບໍ່ແຮ່, ວິສະວະກຳ ແລະ ໂອກາດເຮັດວຽກທີ່ພິເສດໃນອຸດສະຫະກຳທີ່ໜ້າຕື່ນເຕັ້ນນີ້.
ວັນແມ່ຍິງສາກົນດ້ານວິສະວະກຳ ສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງເປັນປີທີ 9 ໃນວັນທີ 23 ມິຖຸນາ 2022, ເປັນການມອບໂອກາດໃຫ້ແກ່ແມ່ຍິງ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ເຂົ້າເຈົ້າຍັງມີບົດບາດໜ້ອຍຫຼາຍໃນຂະແໜງການນີ້. ມາຮອດເດືອນມິຖຸນາ 2021, ມີພຽງແຕ່ 16.5% ຂອງວິສະກອນທັງໝົດທີ່ເປັນແມ່ຍິງ. ພວກເຮົາຈະຕ້ອງສົ່ງເສີມເດັກຍິງ ແລະ ຊາວໜຸ່ມແມ່ຍິງ ທີ່ມີຄວາມອາດສາມາດ ໃຫ້ເຂົ້າເຮັດວຽກໃນຂະແໜງການວິສະວະກຳ ແລະ ສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງຜົນສຳເລັດທີ່ພົ້ນເດັ່ນ ຂອງວິສະວະກອນຍິງໃນທົ່ວໂລກ.
ຫົວຂໍ້ວັນແມ່ຍິງສາກົນດ້ານວິສະວະກຳ ໃນປີນີ້ແມ່ນ “ນັກປະດິດ ແລະ ຜູ້ປະດິດສ້າງ” ເພື່ອອະນາຄົດຂ້າງໜ້າ ໂດຍສຸມໃສ່ ນັກປະດິດ ແລະ ຜູ້ປະດິດສ້າງ ທີ່ຈະປ່ຽນແປງອຸດສະຫະກຳໃຫ້ດີຂື້ນ.
On 31 March 2022, coinciding with International Women’s month, our Sales and Marketing Superintendent Ms Dalyvone Soudachanh had a lively chat in AustCham’s Mate to Mate livestreaming. Here, Ms Soudachanh highlights how LXML promotes women empowerment in a traditionally male dominated industry like mining and how it has been like for her as a woman and having worked with LXML for nearly twenty years. Click Here to Listen
At LXML, our values define how we treat each other. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive working environment where every employee is valued for their unique contribution. At LXML, all voices are heard, all cultures and languages are respected. We acknowledge how diversity guides us to move forward and work together. We know that cooperation and dialogue are essential to our success.
LXML has successfully developed local employees, 95% are Lao and 20% are women. Millions of dollars have been invested in human resource development since 2003. Sepon offers preferential recruitment of local people, which helps maintain the support of local communities. On top of this, LXML provides training and development to employees in various disciplines, scholarships to Australia, and on-the-job training to build future Lao professionals
To be successful, we need strong contributions from all employees. Both men and women have different strengths required for our organization to deliver the best outcome.
Women and communities face the immediate impact of mining activity and are increasingly powerful in employment and other socioeconomic decisions around mining. Women’s voices are
important.
Sepon hosted a special lunch for over 300 employees on March 8th.
The Geology team recently welcomed nine ore spotters, five of whom are females and the first to take on such profession at Sepon.
These new talents bring the team of spotters to 21 people, who have important roles in ensuring that the best quality ore is fed to processing team. This is done by making sure that mined materials is assigned correctly and that it is delivered to the correct location, which can be stockpiles or waste dumps. They ensure that no ore is mined with waste, and no waste is mined with ore. Spotters interact with the excavator operator and truck drivers on a daily basis.
Spotters hold fine qualities, in that, good knowledge of the geology and confidence with interacting with mine operators.
The new batch of ore spotters were recruited from the UXO casual pool who excelled in their performance as ore technicians, assisting with the demands of copper pits and the increasing demands of gold pits.
They uniformly commented that they were very happy to be given permanent roles, are keen to develop their skills and to be part of LXML’s bright future.
These first female ore spotters and internal promotion of local employees demonstrate LXML’s commitment to promoting workplace diversity and localization, recognizing internal talent, and supporting the development of Vilabouly residents.
Currently, female employees account for 22% of LXML workforce.
Ms Bounhak Soukseine, Boungkham Village, Completed primary education, 3 children.
“As this is a new task for me, it involved much new learning. Yet, I’m extremely happy to take on this new task that will give me and my family an income, as well as improve our livelihood. My three kids and my bosses keep me inspired in my work.”
Ms Damdy Ornvimarn, Meuanglouang Village, Completed primary education, married with 4 children.
“I am excited and happy because there has never been any female doing this role previously. I’ll give it all my best in this new role. This new step in my career also means a lot to me because it will earn me an income to lessen my family burden and support my children’s education. More than that, it shows that the company is opening up opportunities for women in the mining sector.”
Ms Khamphachanh Vongsoudthi, Boungkham Village, Completed secondary education, 3 children.
“I’m proud to have a more secured and permanent job. I’m also happy to have the opportunity to work in a job I like and enjoy. This builds on my previous supportive role to the grade control team on site. I’m grateful for the training, experience and support gained from the team and all supervisors that have contributed to my career advancement.”
Ms Soda Si-omma, Nathaenhia Village, Completed primary education, 1 child.
“I’m happy to become part of LXML and to earn salary. I hope my family will be better off because I had no earnings before. I’d like to thanks my former UXO team who have pushed and supported me to realizing my success today.”
Ms Souphaphone Soukdavong, Boungkham Village, Completed secondary education.
“While this is a new and challenging role for me, I still think it is a significant move because it allows women to take on a more important role in operation. This role will push me to be more confident, including communicating through the radio and working with different teams. Working night shift will be something new for me, but wouldn’t stop me from working at my best. I’m grateful for the support and guidance from my family and team leads from UXO and control grader teams.”
While it is common for Sepon mine to have female truck operators because evidence suggests they are relatively more patient, cautious and careful than their male counterparts; having a female grader operator is a big achievement for Sepon and a true inspiration for other women in Sepon and wider mining industry of Lao PDR.
Mining is too often considered as a male industry with a predominately male workforce. Yet, in reality there is a real role for women in the industry and we should all encourage it.
As a fresh graduate in engineering from Australia, Vimeipha landed her first career with LXML as Process Engineer in 2019.
We introduce you to Carl Baker Duly, who joined LXML as Operations Vice General Manager since September 2020. Carl has over 30 years’ operational experience focused across several commodities and has led many large open pit mining operations across many regions.
