Vietnam Mining to the Next Level

A gold exploration company working in Vietnam is joining the exotic and growing band of specialist mining stocks listed in London. Triple Plate Junction will list shares on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Geoff Walsh, chief executive, formerly of Lonrho, said: "Geologically, Vietnam is one of the most exciting areas in the world. The problem has been its history and for the last 50 years it has not had access to Western mining techniques."

During the 1990s, Vietnam started to open up economically to the outside world, as socialism replaced its previously strict communist regime. It is among the fastest growing economies now, having expanded 7 per cent last year.

Mr Walsh said: "Interest in Vietnam is starting to grow. More and more mining groups are pitching up but I'd like to think we're the best placed."

Triple Plate has interests in four areas of Vietnam, including the promising Pu Sam Cap prospect, where it is in a joint venture with Newmont, the world's leading gold miner.

The company raised pounds 4.2m through a placing with institutional investors, handled by the broker Evolution Beeson Gregory. The listing will give it a market value of pounds 10.8m. Mr Walsh said that, as exploration progressed, Triple Plate would return to the market to raise more money. He said the London stock market - which already plays host to explorers working in Russia, central Asia, Africa and Latin America - was rapidly catching up with Canada as a place for small miners to raise capital. The high price of gold in recent times has made capital markets particularly positive about gold exploration companies.