Pots containing rare earths at a mine site near Pangwa in Kachin State's Chipwi Township.
Pots containing rare earths at a mine site near Pangwa in Kachin State's Chipwi Township.

Global demand for rare earth elements fuels environmental destruction in Kachin State

In the remote mountains of Kachin State, rare earth elements used in everything from wind turbine generators to television screens are being mined illegally with seemingly toxic chemicals.

Account Required

You must have an account to access this content.

Create Account

Already a member? Log in here

More stories

Become a Frontier Member

Support our independent journalism and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content and analysis.

Keep your team in the loop

Take a a team membership today so that your organisation is always on top of the latest news from Myanmar.

Join the community

Sign up for Frontier Fridays, our free weekly round-up, and get access to one article a month on the Frontier website.