Monday, 6 October 2008

What Will Be Will Be

We have been in Vietnam since May and I can say that we have settled in quite well. I think we all have made the adjustment to living in a new country once again quite well.

So let me tell you a bit of information about where Ben works.

The Project is located in a mountainous region approximately 160 kilometres west of Hanoi near Ban Phuc Village in Son La Province, in the north-west of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, at latitude 21.19° longitude 104.33°. The nearest towns are Hat Lot, approximately 30 km to the northwest, and Bac Yen, approximately 25 km to the east. The nearest major population centre is the provincial capital Son La approximately 55 km to the northwest.
The challenge of working in nickel, the difficulties of start-up and the location have been something that Ben has enjoyed very much.
One thing that when you work in the mining industry is that you are always expecting the unexpected so as you will read below from part of the news release is that for us this was some unexpected news;

"Toronto, Ontario - September 26, 2008, Asian Mineral Resources Limited("AMR" or the “Company”)(ASN-TSX Venture)announced that development activities on the Company’s Ban Phuc nickel project will be suspended effective October 1, 2008. The Company has been unable, as the result of a combination of factors, including current market conditions and uncertainties regarding Vietnamese government policies on nickel concentrate exports, export tariffs, royalties and taxes, to obtain commitments to provide the financing required for project completion so as to permit work to continue as scheduled. The suspension will be implemented in a manner designed to maximize the value of expenditures to date, maximize cash conservation, minimize the costs of project completion on a delayed basis and provide AMR with a sufficient opportunity to resolve the various Vietnamese issues and to continue discussions and negotiations with potential providers of the required finance, including major shareholders."

So what does that mean for us? At the moment it is business as usual, Ben goes to work, Paige goes to preschool and I do my day to day thing. To be honest who knows what will happen and who knows how long that will mean we are in Hanoi for, but isn't that all apart of the adventure? I find myself saying "I will put it out to the universe and it will provide"

Here are some pictures from Ben's work and the surrounding area



Picture: Camp in the foreground and mine in the back ground on the hill



Picture: The camp under going construction


Picture: Ben's temporary office

Picture: Two of the camp staff


Picture: View from the camp mess


Picture: Children playing in rice field below the camp




Picture: Three local children by the river


Picture: Lady rice harvesting

Picture: Lady operating rice thresher

Picture: The device used in rice threshing

Picture: Water buffalo

Picture: People working in the fields. Ban Phuc village in the background





Picture: Mango sellers on the road between the camp and mine

1 comment:

On the Road Again said...

hey B, I really like your pics of the rice harvesting near mine site -- and like you, I'm putting out the good vibes into the universe!!!! LOL, Rach