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China and Russia Open Tungsten Mines Near Thai Border

China and Russia Open Tungsten Mines Near Thai Border

MGR Online•Society•1h ago

Reader Briefing

Civil society networks in Chiang Rai warn of severe heavy metal contamination in the Sai River caused by expanding mining operations in Myanmar.

  • •The People's Network for the Protection of Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong Rivers held a press conference on November 13 regarding cross-border water pollution.
  • •Chinese and Russian private companies are expanding tungsten mining in Myanmar's Wa region and Muang Sat Province, with some sites only 20 km from the Thai border.
  • •Water contamination and mud flows began appearing in the Sai River starting in 2021.
  • •Heavy metal contamination has been detected over 23 times, affecting water production and agriculture.

Overview

  • •The People's Network for the Protection of Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong Rivers held a briefing at the Tham Pha Chom community multipurpose pavilion in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai on November 13.
  • •Contamination in the Sai River has affected water utility production and agriculture using water from the Sai River and Ruak River.
  • •Heavy metals have been detected in the Sai River more than 23 times since 2021.
  • •Over 20 mining operators are active in Tachileik, and Chinese private firms are working with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) to develop large tungsten mines in Muang Ton, Muang Sat Province.
  • •A Russian private company is preparing to mine tungsten on the same mountain as the Chinese project, approximately 20 km from the Thai border.
  • •Dr. Suebsakul Kitnukorn suggested that Thailand should stop importing minerals like antimony, tin, manganese, and tungsten from Myanmar and stop exporting mining machinery and chemicals to Myanmar.
  • •Member of Parliament Monthicha Chaiban has proposed the construction of the Mae Kham reservoir to the House of Representatives and relevant ministries to secure backup water sources.

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Key Entities

Organization

People's Network for the Protection of Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong Rivers(เครือข่ายประชาชนปกป้องแม่น้ำกก สาย รวก โขง)
A network that held a briefing on cross-border water pollution from mining in Myanmar.
United Wa State Army (UWSA)(กองทัพว้า (UWSA))
An armed ethnic group collaborating with Chinese private firms for tungsten mining.
Mae Fah Luang University(มหาวิทยาลัยแม่ฟ้าหลวง)ℹ️
The university where Dr. Suebsakul Kitnukorn is an academic.
Pollution Control Department(กรมควบคุมมลพิษ)ℹ️
The Thai government agency that has monitored the water quality.
Water Management Committee(คณะกรรมาธิการบริหารจัดการน้ำ)
The committee to which Monthicha Chaiban presented the water pollution problem.
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)
A ministry urged by Monthicha Chaiban to help resolve the water issue.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️
A ministry urged by Monthicha Chaiban to help resolve the water issue.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs(กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ)ℹ️
A ministry urged by Monthicha Chaiban to help resolve the water issue.

Place

Sai River(แม่น้ำสาย)
A river on the Thai-Myanmar border suffering from heavy metal contamination and mud flows.
Ruak River(แม่น้ำรวก)ℹ️
A river connected to the Sai River used for agriculture.
Kok River(แม่น้ำกก)ℹ️
One of the rivers protected by the People's Network for the Protection of Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong Rivers.
Mekong River(แม่น้ำโขง)ℹ️
One of the rivers protected by the People's Network for the Protection of Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong Rivers.
Tham Pha Chom Community (Hua Fai)(ชุมชนถ้ำผาจม (หัวฝาย))
The location of the multipurpose pavilion where the press conference was held.
Mae Sai District(อ.แม่สาย)ℹ️
A district in Chiang Rai Province bordering Myanmar.
Chiang Rai Province(จ.เชียงราย)ℹ️
The Thai province where the affected river and press conference are located.
Tachileik(จ.ท่าขี้เหล็ก)ℹ️
A location in Myanmar with over 20 mining operators.
Muang Ton, Muang Sat Province(เขตเมืองโต๋น จ.เมืองสาด)
The location of large tungsten mines being developed by Chinese and Russian interests.
Laem Chabang Port(ท่าเรือแหลมฉบัง)ℹ️
The port used to transport minerals from Myanmar into Thailand.
Mae Kham Reservoir(อ่างเก็บน้ำแม่คำ)
A proposed reservoir for backup water sources in the region.

Person

Dr. Suebsakul Kitnukorn(ดร.สืบสกุล กิจนุกร)
An academic in International Development at Mae Fah Luang University.
Sergeant Pongpreeda Panjakhan(สิบเอกพงศ์ปรีดา ปัญจขันธ์)
The village head of Muang Daeng Tai, Moo 1, Mae Sai Subdistrict.
Monthicha Chaiban(นางมลธิชา ไชยบาล)
Member of Parliament for Chiang Rai Constituency 6.