The Knight Piesald company from New Zealand has entered into a US$35 million joint venture with a local partner to dig into nickel ores in the northern mountainous province of Son La.

Knight Piesald makes up 90 percent of the total investment and the Son La Engineering Joint-Stock Company, 10 percent, to exploit sulphur compound.

The Ban Phuc nickel mine in Muong Khoa is believed to have deposits of up to 72 million tonnes for just one sulphurous element.

The New Zealand partner will also invest additional US$5 million in a waste treatment system for the 2.2ha mining site.