Illicit Rare-Earth Mining in Myanmar Leaves a Trail of Destruction
Deep within the mountains of Myanmar, thousands of workers are toiling away in rare-earth mining operations that have left a devastating impact on the environment and local communities. The extraction and processing of these critical minerals, used in everything from electric vehicles to military hardware, is becoming increasingly lucrative for Chinese companies operating in the country's eastern Shan State.
The process involves injecting acidic solutions into mountainsides, collecting the drained solution in plastic-lined pools, and then burning the sediment sludge to produce dry rare earth oxides. While this method may seem efficient, it has severe consequences for the workers, nearby communities, and the environment. Toxic chemicals are released into the air, water, and soil, contaminating rivers, streams, and groundwater sources.
In Kachin State, dozens of workers have died or gone missing in recent years due to landslides triggered by large-scale deforestation and the injection of water and leaching agents into the hillsides. The environment is fragile, with frequent landslides, mountain collapses, and stream flooding during the rainy season. Workers are also exposed to lung issues, skin conditions, and chemical burns from contact with acid.
Local communities, including children and elderly people, are particularly vulnerable to pollution from mining activities and dust from deforestation. They worry that contaminated water sources are harming both their health and livelihoods.
Research has shown that companies mining rare earths in Myanmar rely on hazardous chemicals, including sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids, which can dissolve heavy metals and radioactive materials from soil and rocks. The environmental impacts of these mines are still poorly understood, but studies have identified "severe contamination" of water sources, extremely acidic pH levels, and alarmingly high concentrations of toxic elements.
The mining operations in Shan State have sparked public outcry in Thailand, where chemicals associated with rare-earth mining have contaminated rivers relied upon for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing. However, no such response has emerged in Shan State, where mining companies and armed authorities keep a tight lid on information.
"This borderland has seen one extractive wave after another: teak, opium, jade, amber, bananas, and now these so-called green minerals," said Jasnea Sarma, an ethnographer and political geographer at the University of Zurich. "Ethnic armies have to do business with China to survive. China needs the resources, and local communities, after decades of conflict, depend on this to live."
As the global demand for rare earths continues to rise, concerns are growing about the safety and well-being of communities and the environment. The case of Myanmar highlights the need to rethink what "critical minerals" means and ensure that extraction is done with proper regulations and oversight.
In a region where conflict and instability have long plagued the countryside, the illicit rare-earth mining industry has become a lucrative business for Chinese companies. But at what cost?
Deep within the mountains of Myanmar, thousands of workers are toiling away in rare-earth mining operations that have left a devastating impact on the environment and local communities. The extraction and processing of these critical minerals, used in everything from electric vehicles to military hardware, is becoming increasingly lucrative for Chinese companies operating in the country's eastern Shan State.
The process involves injecting acidic solutions into mountainsides, collecting the drained solution in plastic-lined pools, and then burning the sediment sludge to produce dry rare earth oxides. While this method may seem efficient, it has severe consequences for the workers, nearby communities, and the environment. Toxic chemicals are released into the air, water, and soil, contaminating rivers, streams, and groundwater sources.
In Kachin State, dozens of workers have died or gone missing in recent years due to landslides triggered by large-scale deforestation and the injection of water and leaching agents into the hillsides. The environment is fragile, with frequent landslides, mountain collapses, and stream flooding during the rainy season. Workers are also exposed to lung issues, skin conditions, and chemical burns from contact with acid.
Local communities, including children and elderly people, are particularly vulnerable to pollution from mining activities and dust from deforestation. They worry that contaminated water sources are harming both their health and livelihoods.
Research has shown that companies mining rare earths in Myanmar rely on hazardous chemicals, including sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids, which can dissolve heavy metals and radioactive materials from soil and rocks. The environmental impacts of these mines are still poorly understood, but studies have identified "severe contamination" of water sources, extremely acidic pH levels, and alarmingly high concentrations of toxic elements.
The mining operations in Shan State have sparked public outcry in Thailand, where chemicals associated with rare-earth mining have contaminated rivers relied upon for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing. However, no such response has emerged in Shan State, where mining companies and armed authorities keep a tight lid on information.
"This borderland has seen one extractive wave after another: teak, opium, jade, amber, bananas, and now these so-called green minerals," said Jasnea Sarma, an ethnographer and political geographer at the University of Zurich. "Ethnic armies have to do business with China to survive. China needs the resources, and local communities, after decades of conflict, depend on this to live."
As the global demand for rare earths continues to rise, concerns are growing about the safety and well-being of communities and the environment. The case of Myanmar highlights the need to rethink what "critical minerals" means and ensure that extraction is done with proper regulations and oversight.
In a region where conflict and instability have long plagued the countryside, the illicit rare-earth mining industry has become a lucrative business for Chinese companies. But at what cost?
Mining in Myanmar is straight up toxic 
Thousands of workers & locals are getting sick from acid spills & pollution 
. All these workers toiling away in Myanmar's mountains without any protection or care from the company is just heartbreaking 
. The environment's being destroyed, and it's not just the local communities that are affected, but also the animals that call those places home 
.
. We need to start thinking about the consequences of our actions and how they're impacting the world around us 
.
. The lack of response from Shan State is alarming, and it highlights the fact that there's a lot of corruption involved 
. I hope researchers can get to the bottom of this and find ways to mitigate the damage being done 
.
. and the fact that local communities, especially kids and elderly, are getting harmed by pollution and contaminated water is just devastating 
i cant even imagine the conditions those workers are in... toxic chemicals everywhere, landslides, acid burns... its like a nightmare come true 
and whats worst is that local communities, especially kids and elderly people, are the ones suffering most 
those companies and authorities need to step up their game and take responsibility for the destruction they're causing 
and its not just about the environment, its also about human lives lost or gone missing 
. they're basically profiting off the suffering of workers and communities, and it's time someone holds them accountable 
. we need better regulations in place to protect our planet and its inhabitants 
. We need to think about the bigger picture here and make sure that corporations aren't just raking in profits without caring about the consequences