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Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River

20 November 2025
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Extractive industries / Mineral processing and products / Mining / Rivers and lakes / The Mekong
Lao PDR / Rare earth mining

Satellite data show at least 27 new rare earth mines have opened across Laos since 2022, mostly in protected areas and many within the Mekong River Basin, raising transboundary pollution risks for Vietnam and the wider Mekong system. New data show a recent proliferation of rare ...

 Mongabay

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Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River

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