In the hills of Myanmar’s Shan state, the Pradawng tribe, descendants of the Kayan ethnic group, have taken a stand against a proposed lead mining project they claim threatens both their ancestral land and their future. Hundreds of villagers marched to a facility equipped with large-scale milling machinery, part of a project run by Myanmar-based Four Star Company and an unnamed Chinese partner.
The protestors, some carrying banners that read “No transparency, no responsibility,” voiced concerns over the environmental and social costs of the project. “We don’t have any plan to exchange this inheritance from our ancestors for money or riches,” said protest leader Khun Khine Min Naing. “This land is the dignity of our tribe.” The 24-year-old and his fellow protestors are demanding that any mining plans be suspended until the civil conflict that has gripped Myanmar’s Pradawng since the 2021 coup comes to an end and civilian oversight is restored.
Growing Fears of Pollution and Displacement
The Myanmar’s Pradawng tribe, numbering around 3,000 members with a 381-year heritage in Thi Kyeik village, fears the lead mine could contaminate local soil and water sources with hazardous chemicals. According to the World Health Organization, lead is among the most toxic substances, with children particularly vulnerable to exposure.
Villagers claim they were not consulted about the mine, and have taken matters into their own hands by blockading roads and threatening to seize equipment. “We are only asking for Indigenous rights that we should own,” Khun Khine Min Naing said. “We don’t want to leave this land environmentally damaged for the next generation.” Already, increased mining activity in the area has reportedly contributed to flooding and mudslides, displacing families and eroding the land.
Locals are also wary of the Chinese involvement, which only came to light when representatives joined a community meeting with Four Star Company, a business reportedly linked to the local Kayan New Land Party. The identity of the Chinese partner remains unclear.
Myanmar’s Mining Boom and China’s Expanding Footprint
China, which shares a 2,100-kilometre border with Myanmar’s Pradawng, has long been a dominant importer of the country’s natural resources. In 2023, nearly 98% of Myanmar’s lead ore exports, approximately 49,000 tonnes worth $20 million, went to China, according to World Bank data. However, experts suggest the actual volume may be significantly higher due to a lack of centralized oversight and widespread illegal mining.
A recent satellite analysis by the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience found mining operations along the Myanmar-China border nearly doubled in size between 2018 and 2024. With lead priced around $2,000 per refined tonne and vital to the energy transition through its use in batteries, the demand is rising.
But villagers like 19-year-old Mu Ju July, who collects lead scraps for a living, remain skeptical of any lasting benefit. “If we allow them, we will be okay for only one or two years,” she said. “It will leave only stones when the time comes for our children.”
