should - rio/awc be worried !, page-19

posted by rayc.
I've been on the Bolevan Plateau close to the proposed mine site. The soil is deep red, and much like we see in Weipa QLD.

Grows good coffee, but access to water in the dry season is a problem (bauxite smelters use lots of water).

Relaible power is also problematic (bauxite smelters use lots of power). From memory, when PNA was developing Phu Bai and Phu Kham (also Lao), they had to build thier own power lines.

There is no rail anywhere in Lao.

However, the good news is that there's a dirty big newly built highway (like a giant conveyer belt) running north across the border straight to the Kunming smelters.

Cheers