Enhancing Analytical Precision and Mining Operations in Laos
A leading mining company in Laos further bolstered its operations with the support of DKSH and Agilent’s mining solutions.
Phu Bia Mining Limited (PBM) is a leading corporation in Laos and a major copper and gold producer in Southeast Asia. PBM’s production subsidiaries are Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation and Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation.
With an active exploration program, the company has a portfolio of growth projects in Laos. The company is a strong contributor to the market, with total investments of over USD 1.4 billion. PBM employs over 3,255 staff – 92% of its total workforce are Laos nationals – many of whom come from communities in the vicinity of its operations. PBM’s community development programs have been recognized internationally and by the Laos Government for contributing to the nation’s rural socio-economic development.
Challenge
As PBM operates round-the-clock throughout the year, any equipment downtime may result in significant financial losses and operational delays. With its expansion to its new site, Houayxai 2, the stakes have risen even higher as the volume of samples to be analyzed grew substantially.
This presented a dual challenge: ensuring uninterrupted operations while scaling up analytical capabilities to meet increasing demands. Balancing the need for continuous operations with the growing workload has become a key focus for the company.
Approach
For PBM, where precision and performance are critical to maintaining their operational standards, investing in Agilent equipment was an ideal option. Agilent’s ICP-OES and AAS instruments are trusted in mining for their accuracy, durability, and ability to handle complex samples like ores and concentrates.
ICP-OES delivers fast, precise multi-element analysis, making it easy to monitor and optimize processes, while AAS offers cost-effective trace metal detection for key elements like gold and arsenic.
As Agilent’s distributor and service provider in Laos for almost a decade, our certified and well-trained service team delivered after-sales service, training, and technical support to PBM. In addition to the installation on this project, we carried out thorough preventive maintenance on their existing ICP and AAS equipment, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing the risk of unexpected downtime.
We also conducted comprehensive training sessions tailored to PBM’s needs. These sessions empowered their staff with the skills and knowledge to efficiently operate and maintain the equipment, helping to maximize operational uptime and ensure seamless 24/7 performance.
Result
PBM achieved significant improvements upon the successful installation and preventive maintenance support by DKSH. The preventive maintenance conducted on existing ICP and AAS equipment has minimized the risk of breakdowns, ensuring uninterrupted operations and enhanced reliability.
With the addition of new Agilent ICP-OES and AAS 240FS equipment, PBM can now analyze a higher volume of samples continuously, running operations 24/7 without compromising accuracy.
We are happy to have completed another successful project with PBM, with the repurchasing of Agilent’s advanced ICP-OES and AAS 240FS equipment. Seeing our partners reinvest in our solutions is the highest compliment to our dedication and service. This project has not only enhanced their operational efficiency but also reinforced the strength of our ongoing partnership.
– Thidaphone Sipaseuth, Engineer, Technical Sales, DKSH
