The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has released the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Nam Kha A primary gold mine in Mu Ca and Muong Te communes for public consultation.
The project, with investment of more than VND 422 billion, would cover 126 hectares and have an annual mining capacity of 17,000 tonnes of raw ore. Gold and silver would be recovered through hydrometallurgical and chemical extraction processes.
The mine's gold and silver reserves were approved by the National Mineral Reserves Assessment Council in 2017.
According to the EIA, nearly 410,000 tonnes of ore would be extracted, containing an estimated 1,383 kg of gold and 4,613 kg of silver.
Processing is expected to yield more than 1,247 kg of gold with purity exceeding 99.9 per cent and 3,898 kg of silver of similar purity.
Under Vietnam's environmental regulations, the project is classified as a Group I mineral mining project with a high risk of adverse environmental impacts.
It would also involve converting more than 66 hectares of natural production forest to mining use, making it environmentally sensitive under forestry regulations.
The EIA said the project does not qualify as a green investment under the government's green taxonomy introduced in 2025.
No homes, defence or security facilities, historical or cultural relics, scenic sites or archaeological remains have been identified within the project area.
However, another 3.65-hectare gold mine borders the site. Mining rights for that project were awarded through an auction approved by Lai Chau authorities in April, meaning some overlapping impacts between the two projects would be unavoidable.
The project developer plans to consult experts in mineral processing, precious-metal metallurgy, environmental chemistry, economics, ecology, meteorology and health to assess potential impacts and develop mitigation measures.
Lai Chau is also drawing up plans for the Muong Te Nature Reserve, whose nearest boundary would be about 6-10 km from the proposed mine as the crow flies.
The Nam Kha A mine would operate for 27 years from the date its mining licence is issued.
Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2028 and run until the second quarter of 2029, when mining and processing operations are scheduled to start.
