London 10th August : Chinas outsourcing of rare earth mining to Myanmar has led to an explosion of the mining industry in the country which is causing human rights violations and destroying the environment, while aiding pro-juna militias, according to a report released by the rights organization Global Witness. The report, titled “Myanmar’s Poisoned Mountains”, utilized satellite imagery to determine that what was just a “handful” of rare earth mines in Myanmar’s Kachin state in 2016 had exploded to more than 2,700 mining collection facilities in over 300 sites that cover an area similar to that of Singapore in March 2022, less than a year since the military took over the power in an attempted coup in the year 2016, RFA stated.
Global Witness found that China had outsourced a large portion of its manufacturing across the frontier to a remote region of Kachin state that it claims is the world’s biggest producer of the minerals utilized in green technology, smartphones and home electronics.
“Our investigation has revealed that China has effectively transferred this noxious industry to Myanmar in the last several years with devastating consequences for the local community and the environment.” RFA quoted Global Witness CEO Mike Davis as saying.
The warlord local to the area in the charge of the mining region, Zakhung Ting Ying, has been deemed the “central broker” of Myanmar’s rare earth industry, according to the report together with other top leaders of militias that support the military regime, who have made backroom agreements with Chinese companies which are illegal under Myanmar’s laws.
Global Witness noted that the methods employed to extract rare earth minerals that are heavy have contaminated local ecosystems and destroyed livelihoods.They also polluted drinking water sources.
Global Witness said that a variety of health issues that have been reported in the vicinity of the mines for rare earth in China have also been reported by people living near mines in Myanmar.
Global Witness said that its findings are in the midst of a massive growth in mineral demand as the production of green energy technology is ramping up.The sales of refined rare earth minerals used in magnet production are predicted to double by 2035.
The organization warned of the high likelihood that the minerals will find ways into supply chains of big household names which use high-quality rare earths in their products, including Tesla, Volkswagen, General Motors, Siemens and Mitsubishi Electric, RFA reported.
The US Geological Survey estimates that around 240,000 tonnes of rare earth minerals were extracted around the world in 2020.with China making up 140,000 tonnes being followed by the US with 38,000 tons, and Myanmar with 300.000 tons.
While China is the world’s biggest producer of rare earth minerals, it also buys the minerals from neighboring Myanmar using its less expensive labor.
Myanmar exported over 140,000 tonnes of rare earth reserves to China that was worth over $1 billion in the period between May 2017 through October 2021 according to China’s State Taxation Administration.
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