The organization Global Witness has updated its report on the situation in the Burmese state rich in chemical elements necessary for the production of modern technologies. Here armed groups loyal to the Army and ethnic resistance militias confront each other. But both fronts rely on mining (most of which is unregulated) for income, causing huge problems for the environment and local people.
Yangon () – Chinese imports of heavy rare earths from Myanmar broke all records last year, aggravating the environmental problems of the Burmese state of Kachin, partly controlled by an armed group close to the Army and partly by ethnic militias that They oppose the military regime. Both sides – which came into conflict following the military junta’s coup d’état in February 2021 – depend on mines (most of which are unregulated) to increase their income.
Non-profit organization Global Witness has updated their report on rare earth mining in Myanmar after two years, reiterating once again that global dependence on Burmese mines is having negative effects on the health of the local population.
Rare earth elements are a group of 17 elements from the metal family that can in turn be divided into light, medium and heavy elements based on their atomic weight. China has a kind of monopoly on the extraction and processing of rare earths, essential for the production of various technologies, from electric car batteries to wind turbines and next-generation weapons.
Chinese imports from Myanmar rose from 19,500 tonnes in 2021 to 41,700 tonnes in 2023 (worth $1.4 billion), more than double what China extracts domestically.
Toxic substances are used for extraction that contaminate the environment and cause damage to health. Ammonium sulfate “is injected into the soil through a network of pipes. As the solution descends, it picks up the rare earths,” explains Global Witness. “In China, where this technique – known as in situ leaching – was first developed in the 1980s, it is known to cause pollution of waterways and agricultural land and the destruction of vegetation.” But while this practice is widely regulated in China, there are no regulations of any kind in Myanmar. On the contrary, most of the chemicals needed for the process come from China: 1.5 million tons of ammonium sulfate were exported in 2023 (compared to 93,000 tons in 2015) and 174,000 tons of oxalic acid (in 2015). had been 342 tons).
Local residents anonymously said that due to the chemical compounds, “everything is destroyed. You can no longer plant anything in the fields. Many animals have died drinking that water.” And even: “Immersing yourself in the water can cause itching and infections.” An increase in respiratory, skin, kidney and internal organ problems has been observed in mining workers. Some died from serious intestinal problems. Global Witness took water samples from rivers in the region containing high levels of arsenic, confirming testimonies from local people.
There are two areas in Kachin state where mining deposits are concentrated. In the so-called Special Region 1, controlled by militias loyal to the Burmese Army, the number of mines has increased to more than 300, an increase of more than 40% compared to 2021. Also in the municipality of Momauk, about 150 kilometers further south , mining deposits went from nine in 2021 to more than 40 in 2023, as confirmed by satellite images analyzed by Global Witness. This area is administered by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), whose armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), fights against the Military Junta.
The KIO stated that it only proceeds with the extraction of rare earths after obtaining the consent of the local population and having regulated the activity with strict laws, adding that the revenue from mining “goes into the regional development fund” that finances ” education, health and infrastructure construction.” Experts, however, are wary of these claims. Last year, a KIO leader, General N’Ban La, had stated that the income from mining was destined. to finance the fight against the Army. Similarly, Richard Horsey, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, maintains that both parties in the conflict consider rare earths as an important source of income. It is “a huge source of income for what in reality. it is a fairly small armed group, allied with the Myanmar military,” he said, referring to the militia that controls Special Region 1. At the same time, “the KIO is decidedly interested in developing its own rare earth mines because it sees how much money win. “You can’t afford not to receive a portion of that revenue.”
Photo: Global Witness
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