Gold Mining in Hukawng Region

Thet Kel Gold Mine is situated 10 miles away from Ting Kawk village tract in Tanai Township, Kachin State. This gold mine started in 2018. Previously, Ting Kawk villagers used to farm and the gold mine area used to be forest land for villagers where they find fish and food. After 2019, more gold mining is taking place. Even now, mining companies already started using big equipment to start their operation. This gold mine is in KIO’s controlled area.

Local landscape

The land area of Thet Kel Gold Mine is not fully flat and it covers half hilly, half flat, and half valley. The surrounding area has streams and forests. The roads are easily traveled during summer but in the rainy season, the road turns into mudslides and is difficult to travel. This road is half dirt and half gravel. Due to more gold mining taking place, there is less and less farmland available.

Investment

For those interested in investing in gold mining, the price of land in Thet Kel Gold Mine is 70/80 Lakh per acre. Miners have to pay 150 to SAC per vehicle. To KIO, miners just have to pay some gold, two grams of gold monthly. For one ft of diesel is taxed at 40000 Kyat and a bag of rice is taxed at 5000 Kyat. The monthly tax for a vehicle is 5 lakhs to KIO and SAC.

Tax

It is known that tax has to be paid equally to KIO, SAC, and Militia. Relevant government departments from the region and districts also collect taxes from miners. If businessmen fail to pay taxes, there will be restrictions on mining.

Armed groups

Although Thet Kel Gold Mine is under KIO’s controlled area, there are other different armed groups who come to do inspections or check the area. The road to Thet Kel in Ting Kawk village has SAC military camp under Tanai Township and is not far from KIA military camp.

Land confiscation issue

There is no case of land dispute and land confiscation yet in Thet Kel Gold Mine. KIO is clearing 10 acres of forest land to be made for a gold mining area which is for the public to do gold mining.

Socio-cultural issue

This gold mine has people from different backgrounds such as Kachin, Rakhine, Bamar, Chinese, Shan, and more. Sometimes, Lisu and Rawang ethnic also come to work in this area.

Security issue

Despite it is KIO’s controlled area, sometimes the Burmese junta drop airstrike on this area. That is why businessmen are worried.