"Myanmar’s environment hit by rare earth mining boom" 23 May 2022

Pristine parts of northern Kachin State are under threat as demand grows for high-tech devices that rely on rare earth. [...]

Local people have now linked the rare earth extraction process to the deteriorating environment, which includes polluted water and soil that reduces their crop yields and sales. Some said their concerns had not been adequately addressed by the local and national governments. [...]

Mining activities in Kachin State are particularly active in areas under the control of a militia group the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), which was converted into the Border Guard Force (BGF) under the military in 2009. The group leader Zahkung Ting Ying established his own militia group after the conversion.

After the military coup on February 1 last year, illegal rare earth mining has surged in areas under the control of his Tatmadaw-ally militant group. Multiple sources confirmed that members of the group have been involved in rare earth mining companies and profit from the exports to China.

Sources also said some of them had arranged land plots for Chinese businessmen arriving to cash in on rare earth mining. These members were rewarded with revenue shares. [...]

A Burmese worker is paid about 4,500 yuan a month, or about $650. Workers who are tasked with putting chemicals into the leaching ponds are paid more because the job carries more risk and is harmful to the health, said Ko Zaw.

When carried out irresponsibly, this mining can harm the environment and human health throughout the process – from land clearance to ore extraction. The leaching pond, where toxic chemicals are applied to dissolve the rare earth, may leak and the contaminated water may get into groundwater if the pond is not properly sealed. [...]

Some local residents said they had been suffering water shortages and lower crop yields as the mining activities require large amounts of water from communities’ water sources. [...]