TENOVA Delkor has completed the supply of six thickeners and three horizontal belt filters to Masan Resources’ Nui Phao project in Vietnam, a contract that included two of the largest free standing steel thickener tanks in the world. The scope of the contract covered the design, manufacture, supply and commissioning of six elevated steel thickener tanks of diameters ranging from 6 metres up to 60 metres, as well as three horizontal belt filters.

BESRA has celebrated the re-opening of its Bong Mieu gold mine in Central Vietnam with a ceremonial underground blast. The event, attended by company representatives and local officials, marks the return to operations by the property after it was shut down in November last year following a series of severe weather events.

THE second international mining and minerals recovery exhibition and conference, Mining Vietnam 2014, was held in March at the International Centre for Exhibition (ICE) in Hanoi. The exhibition aimed to support the development of Vietnam’s mining industry and increase awareness of other mining opportunities in South East Asia.

SEVERE weather has taken its toll on Besra’s gold operations in central Vietnam with output at Phuoc Son starting to increase following an extended period of limited production and output from Bong Mieu expected to resume from May 1 after being suspended late last year. In early April Besra said its daily Vietnam production from Phuoc Son was averaging 70 ounces.

HAVING demonstrated the technical capability of its ATC Ferrotungsten Project and its operational team, Hazelwood Resources aims to demonstrate the viability of the operation. The first product was sold in May last year with three successful campaigns following which resulted in production doubling in each campaign.

Dewatering of Besra Gold’s Bong Mieu gold mine in central Vietnam is advanced and mining operations are expected to recommence by the end of May. Operations have been suspended since November 2013 due to the impacts of several typhoons.

SOUTH East Asia is a diverse region which means there is something for everyone in terms of opportunities, particularly in the mining and energy industries, according to a Vietnam-based Austrade senior trade commissioner.

Vietnam Mining Corporation has submitted an Article of Amendment with the Secretary of State of Nevada to change its corporate name to Vanguard Mining Corporation to better reflect the company's new scope of business.

Besra Gold has received formal notification from the Vietnam Ministry of Finance that export tax assessments totalling $12 million against Bong Mieu Gold Mining Company and Phuoc Son Gold Company have been repealed.

Vietnam Mining Corporation has regained its current status with the OTC Markets after filing its annual reports for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013. The company is also current and in good standing with the State of Nevada and has retained Transfer Online, Inc. as its new transfer agent and registrar.

WEIR Minerals is the platinum sponsor for the Mining Media International Regional Technical Conference Series to be held in conjunction with Mining Vietnam 2014 in Hanoi, Vietnam from March 11-13. The conference will showcase technology to the mining industry in South East Asia.

Besra has been granted a renewal of its licence to export gold from Vietnam. The licence, issued by the State Bank of Vietnam, permits the company to export gold from its operations in the central province of Quang Nam.

Vietnam state-owned oil and gas group Petrovietnam is looking to buy around 10 million tonnes of coal a year, mostly from Australia and Indonesia, to feed domestic thermal power plants from 2017, according to Reuters.

Besra Gold advises that in observance of the traditional Tet holiday period in Vietnam, it will suspend mining and milling operations in Vietnam for five days from January 29.

The company says that Phuoc Son ramp-up is being affected by a shortage of backfill that has restricted mining to conventional methods and negatively impacted production where tonnes mined per day have decreased from an average of 940 tonnes during the last quarter to around 500 tonnes currently, a reduction of 47%, albeit at a higher grade.

VIETNAM faces an acute shortage of electricity which will primarily be solved by more coal-fired power stations owing to the limited potential for new hydro plants and limited availability of gas. This will increase demand for coal and in anticipation the government has raised the coal export tax from 15% to 20% with further increases expected.

THE 2nd edition of Mining Vietnam will be staged from March 11 to 13 at the International Centre for Exhibition (ICE), Cultural Palace, Hanoi. On the back of the successful 2012 inaugural edition, Mining Vietnam 2014 again seeks to offer industry professionals and investors from the region and around the world a business gateway into Vietnam’s minerals and mining industry.

Normal operations have resumed at Besra’s Phuoc Son Gold Mine in central Vietnam after a week-long shutdown earlier this month. The company initiated the shutdown on May 7 due to a blockade of the access road to the site by a number of local protestors.

Just three days after the first ferrotungsten was produced at Hazelwood Resources’ ATC Project in Vietnam, the company has hit design capacity of 16-18 tonnes per day. 

The first metal has been produced at Hazelwood Resources’ ATC Ferrotungsten Project as the facility completes its hot commissioning schedule. The company’s subsidiary Asia Tungsten Products prepared the plant for production and secured all necessary raw materials during the past month and began the commissioning process. 

Asian Mineral Resources (AMR) is on track to meet the June deadline for commissioning of its Ban Phuc Nickel Project in northern Vietnam. The company says the last piece of major equipment, the ball mill, is now mounted on site. The construction of the tailings storage facility continues ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed in May 2013, as planned.