Nam Gnone village and the main intersection.

Phu Bia Mining completes road upgrade to improve access for Xaysomboun communities 

Phu Bia Mining (PBM) has completed a US$95,836 upgrade of a 4.2-km public road at Ban Nam Gnone in Xaysomboun province, improving safety and transport access for local communities while reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to infrastructure development in Laos.
The road improvement project, located near the company’s Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation in Anouvong district, began in early May this year and was completed at the end of June.
The upgraded road is expected to provide safer and more reliable access for residents, while strengthening connectivity with neighbouring areas of the province.

The road base sheeting is constructed by a grader and a roller.

The project was undertaken after authorities of Xaysomboun province sought Phu Bia Mining’s support to rehabilitate the deteriorating road, which had been identified as posing safety risks to motorists and local residents.
The completed works included double-gravel reinforcement along the entire route and the widening of selected sections to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.
The project was implemented through the coordinated efforts of the company’s Road Maintenance, Community Relations and Security teams, which worked closely with a Lao LVC contractor, local residents and road users.
Phu Bia Mining’s Managing Director, Mr David Reid, spoke proudly about the company’s support for public infrastructure improvement projects in the province.
“Phu Bia Mining has invested more than US$ 100 million in public road improvements along its haulage route and adjacent communities since operations first commenced. Ban Nam Gnone is one of Phu Bia Mining’s host communities that has directly benefited from a wide range of company-initiated small-scale community development projects since 2008,” he said.
“Our goal through the value of Guangdong Rising Holding Group (GDRH)’s innovation is to continue our long-term presence in Laos, and we will enable more support to help build a better future for local communities in the years ahead.”
Other Phu Bia Mining Road infrastructure investment over the years have included:
• Haulage route: Since 2006, Phu Bia Mining has invested in road repair and maintenance along the company’s concentrate haulage route. Most notably, the Asian Development Road (ADB) No 9 road from Thabok district, Bolikhamxay province, to its Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation.
• 5A public road: In 2013, Phu Bia Mining initiated a road realignment project of approximately 4.7 km along 5A public road that leads to the Nam Nguam 3 Dam between Ban Nam Gnone and the Nam Gnone Bridge in Anouvong district. Repairs and upgrades to the 5A public road were made to resurface it and reinforce the slope, which was at risk of landslides and erosion during the wet season.
• No. 12 road: In 2014, outside of Xaisomboun province, the company collaborated with Khammouan province’s Department of Public Works and Transport to upgrade a section of No 12 Road from kilometre 130. The road connects the border between Naphao in Khammouan province and Chalor of Vietnam, where 75 per cent of the company’s copper concentrate is shipped.
• Concrete road in Nam Mo village: In 2022, Phu Bia Mining invested US$ 1,422,500 to construct the 2.728 km, six-metre wide concrete road that runs from its Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation to Ban Nam Mo Secondary School.
The latest road improvement project underscores Phu Bia Mining’s continued investment in infrastructure that supports safer transportation, economic connectivity and sustainable development for communities surrounding its mining operations.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update July 8, 2026)