Standing Deputy Prime Minister visits Laos-International Precious Metals Refinery

The Laos-International Precious Metals Refinery (LIPMER) was deeply honoured to welcome Lao Standing Deputy Prime Minister Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, who paid an official visit to inspect operational progress and tour the refinery’s production facilities in Vientiane on Thursday.
This high-profile visit is a significant milestone in the development of the project. The delegation was warmly received by the Chairman and Founder of the Laos-International Precious Metals Refinery, Dr Chanthone Sitthixay, alongside the refinery’s executive management team.
Dr Chanthone presented a comprehensive briefing on the project's background, current overview, and long-term development vision.
His report highlighted the refinery's advanced technological readiness, modern management systems, and a strategic roadmap dedicated to elevating production standards to a global level.

Central to this vision is a steadfast commitment to aligning all refining systems and production processes with the stringent standards of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), the world’s highest and most widely recognised benchmark for precious metals.
Dr Chanthone emphasised that adhering to LBMA standards does not merely certify the purity and quality of refined precious metals, but fundamentally builds global market trust while sharpening the competitive edge of Lao products on the international trading stage.
LIPMER remains deeply driven to serve as a core catalyst for the socio-economic advancement of Laos by adding significant value to domestic mineral and precious metal resources, ensuring they achieve sustainable international recognition.
Following the presentation, the executive management team guided the Standing Deputy Prime Minister on a tour of the production floor. The tour showcased the refinery’s state-of-the-art technological systems and live operational workflows, which strictly adhere to international safety and environmental sustainability standards.
On this momentous occasion, Mr Saleumxay expressed his sincere commendation for the unwavering determination and efforts of LIPMER's management in establishing a high-caliber facility with a definitive trajectory toward LBMA certification.
The Standing Deputy Prime Minister underscored that this initiative is a vital step in the right direction and aligns perfectly with the nation’s strategic priority to transition from exporting raw minerals to advanced domestic processing, thereby maximising value creation for the country's resources.
Furthermore, Mr Saleumxay reaffirmed that the Lao government is fully prepared to support and facilitate the project’s seamless operations. This backing aims to accelerate the fulfillment of LIPMER's vision: elevating the Lao gold and precious metals industry to a status of genuine global renown.
 

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 15, 2026)