Remarkable paces have been witnessed in the project of developing Laotian potash resources cooperated between ISL and Yuntianhua Group Inc. since the unveiling of the Engineering Research Center of Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization of Salt Mineral Resources (“Engineering Center”), co-founded in September 2007 by the two parties. To date, a supplementary prospecting of a potash deposit at the Laotian Vientiane Tongmang ore segment, claimed by Sino-Laotian Minerals Development and Investment Co. Ltd, has been completed, confirming a reserve of 19307 ×10⁴ ton KCl. With the penetration of prospecting, the supplementary assignment has resulted in more reliable data on the deposit.

ISL researchers have completed the laboratory study “Producing of KCl from Laotian Carnallite Minerals” at the Engineering Center, and obtained the process flow for industrialization. Based on the tests, a process flowsheet with mass balance has been developed along with material characteristic parameters, thereby providing a technical basis for the design of the potassium chloride demonstration project with a scale of 50,000 tpa. ISL researchers cooperated with designers from Yuntianhua Yunnan Chemical Engineering Institute in the investigation of potential production facilities and completion of the preliminary design.

The Laotian government imposes stringent environmental regulations on Chinese potash players which are much higher than what is practiced in China, rendering the development of its mineral resources in a fairly ecological way. As such, for the additional utilization of the tailings after extracting potassium from the Laotian potassium ores, ISL scientists conducted investigations on the utilization of magnesium resources and on the selection and design of proper refilling materials and the solution.

In terms of magnesium utilization, the following work has been performed: Based on extensive survey, the suitable pyrolysis facility was chosen. Up to now, the facility is undergoing installation and commissioning. For investigating the effect of local meteorological conditions on the strength of magnesium cement prepared with various proportions of raw materials, standard test piece molding tests of magnesium cement have been carried out in Laos. A compressive strength test for 6 months has been accomplished.

For checking the amenability of magnesium cement products to the local climatic and environmental conditions, a test building of 58 sq. m has been assembled at the Laotian base of Sino-Laotian Minerals and Potash Co. Ltd, taking local customs and practices into consideration. The building will serve as a prototype for investigating the Laotian market of magnesium cement products, its difference with local houses in terms of advantages and disadvantages, based on which, improvements in the design and construction of magnesium cement houses will be made so that more suitable houses and cement products are expected to come into being.

Besides, the molding conditions and strength tests of refilling materials at various mixing ratios were studied. Results showed that the molding of the refilling material is quite convenient, with its strength much higher than what is required for tailings refilling in common practices.

ISL has fully explored its distinctive strengths in research and development in the cooperative project, which together with the strong software and hardware support from Yuntianhua, as a large state-owned group corporation, ensures the smooth execution of the project. It is believed that this pattern will demonstrate a pioneering and illustrative function for developing overseas potassium resources. 

In the immediate future, an internationally leading illustrative potash production base shall be built in Vientiane Laos, which will in turn boost China's move to the development and utilization of the potassium deposits of our neighboring countries and regions.