Small-scale gold mines pollute Mekong River with arsenic

Matichon•General•11m ago

Reader Briefing

Small-scale gold mining operations in the Mekong River are causing arsenic contamination and environmental damage affecting Thailand and Laos.

•Small-scale gold mines are operating 24 hours a day in the Mekong River, specifically near Houay Xai, Bokeo Province, Laos.
•Niwat Roikaew, Chairman of the Rak Chiang Khong Group, warns that backhoe excavation releases arsenic and chemicals directly into the water.
•Mining activities have been observed since last year, with operations expanding to the middle of the river this year.
•Concerns exist that the future Pak Beng Dam will flood old mines, causing stored arsenic to disperse into the reservoir.

Overview

•Heavy machinery, including backhoes and tractors, is being used to excavate sand for gold panning in the Mekong River near the border of Chiang Rai and Bokeo Province.
•The excavation activities create deep gouges in the riverbed, affecting water channels and potentially causing riverbank erosion.
•Niwat Roikaew states that the use of backhoes causes arsenic accumulated in soil and rock to disperse into the water, impacting health and consumption for residents on both sides of the river.
•Niwat Roikaew called upon the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resolve the issue.
•Mining activities have increased since 2019 following news of the Pak Beng Dam construction, as operators aim to excavate before the area is flooded.
•Local residents in Chiang Khong express concern over water turbidity, noise pollution from nighttime excavation, and potential chemical leaks.
•In Pak Beng, a large-scale gold mine operated by a Chinese company is reportedly releasing mine water into tributary rivers, affecting fishing for local Laotians.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Niwat Roikaew

"These kinds of mines are small-scale mines operating in the middle of the Mekong River; there isn't just one, but this is an example, there are many more."

เหมืองแบบนี้คือเหมืองขนาดเล็กที่ทำอยู่กลางแม่น้ำโขง ไม่ได้มีเหมืองเดียว แต่นี่คือตัวอย่าง มีอีกหลายเหมือง

Niwat Roikaew

"What is scary is that when the Pak Beng Dam is completed and water levels rise, the water will flood these mines."

สิ่งที่น่ากลัวคือ เมื่อเขื่อนปากแบงสร้างเสร็จ ระดับน้ำสูงขึ้น น้ำก็จะท่วมเหมืองพวกนี้

Key Entities

Person

Niwat Roikaew(นิวัฒน์ ร้อยแก้ว)

Chairman of the Rak Chiang Khong Group in Chiang Rai Province.

Organization

Rak Chiang Khong Group(กลุ่มรักษ์เชียงของ)

A group based in Chiang Rai Province concerned with the preservation of Chiang Khong.

Mekong River Commission(MRC)ℹ️

An international organization responsible for the management of the Mekong River.

Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs(กรมสนธิสัญญาและกฎหมาย)

A department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved in river management and borders.

Thai-Lao Joint Boundary Commission(คณะกรรมาธิการเขตแดนร่วม ไทย–ลาว)

A joint committee between Thailand and Laos responsible for boundary matters.

Office of the National Water Resources(สำนักงานทรัพยากรน้ำแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The secretariat of the Thai National Mekong Committee.

Mekong Riverine Unit(หน่วยเรือรักษาความสงบเรียบร้อยตามลำแม่น้ำโขง)

A security unit operating along the Mekong River in the Chiang Rai area.

Pha Muang Force(กองกำลังผาเมือง)

A military force operating in the border region.

Marine Department(กรมเจ้าท่า)

The agency responsible for maritime and river navigation, specifically the Chiang Rai Regional Office.

Place

Mekong River(แม่น้ำโขง)ℹ️

An international river where small-scale gold mining is taking place.

Chiang Khong(เชียงของ)ℹ️

A district in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, located along the Mekong River.

Houay Xai(ห้วยทราย)ℹ️

A town in Bokeo Province, Laos, where gold mining is occurring.

Bokeo(บ่อแก้ว)ℹ️

A province in Laos where mining activities are located.

Pak Beng Dam(เขื่อนปากแบง)ℹ️

A planned dam project that is driving the urgency of mining excavations.

Oudomxay(อุดมไซ)ℹ️

A province in Laos mentioned as having mining activities.