On May 16, the deep ramp engineering in Discovery mining area of LXML, Laos, a subsidiary of Chifeng Gold, started, which opened a new era of modern trackless mechanized underground mining in Laos. On the same day, LXML held a commencement ceremony in the mining area.

The main government officials attending the commencement ceremony were Thipphakon Chanthavongsa, Deputy Minister of Laos National Prime Minister's Office, Thongphat Inthavong, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines (Chairman of the Sepon Project Management Committee of the Central Government), Viyantasen Tapachon, Deputy Governor of Savannakhet, and officials from various ministries, including the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and representatives from Savannakhet Provincial Government, Villabri District Government and local communities.

The area where Sepon Mine is located has a mining history of thousands of years. After Chifeng Gold acquired the mine in 2018, it implemented the strategy of "one body with two wings". After restarting gold mining, Sepon Mine entered a "golden age" and moved towards a world-class mine. Thongphat Inthavong, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines of Laos, said at the launching ceremony, "The deep underground mine in Discovery East District of LXML will be the first modern underground mine in Laos. Compared with open-pit mining, the underground mine has higher grade, more economical mining and less impact on the environment and society. LXML, as the first model mining company of modern underground mines, is a solid partner of Laos' national development. It adheres to high standards in mining and environmental protection. While maintaining the sustainable development of mines, it will continue to bring economic and social benefits, so that more people can benefit from the development of LXML."

The Sepon underground mine project is expected to have an annual output of 1.2 million tons after it is put into production next year, and the mining depth is 450 meters below the surface. With the start of underground mining, LXML has successfully achieved three parallel strategic goals: parallel production of gold mine and copper mine, parallel production of primary gold mine and oxide gold mine, and parallel open-pit mining and underground mining.

Fu Xuesheng, Chairman of LXML, said at the commencement ceremony that while Sepon Mine carries out underground mining, it will continue to intensify prospecting, find new mineral species and types, continuously increase resource reserves, and strive to build Sepon Mine into a world-class large-scale mine.