"New mapping reveals hidden mining boom in Laos that threatens the Mekong", 10 December 2025

A new satellite analysis from U.S. think tank the Stimson Center has identified 517 suspected mines along rivers in Laos, including major tributaries of the Mekong [...].

[...] Mongabay spoke by phone with several government officials in Laos’s southern border province of Attapeu [...] who said illegal mining remains widespread despite recent crackdowns.

Almost all mineral exports from Laos are bound for China or to Vietnam, which in turn often reexports to China [...].

An official in Attapeu province told Mongabay that local authorities were trying to crack down on illegal mines, but the sheer number of mines in remote areas and limited government resources have made this a challenging task.

[...] larger mines are situated on streams and creeks that flow into the Xe Xou River, [...] source within the Laos government noted a distinct decline in fish and crab species within the river.