MYANMAR
Myanmar Times-May 24
More than 8,000 acres of jade and gem blocks backed by the State are expected to remain active until 2021, said U Aung Nyunt Thein, managing director of the Myanmar Gems Enterprise under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
This is after the Myanmar Gems Enterprise under the new government suspended renewals of expired blocks. As at April 30, there were 8,684 remaining jade and gem blocks in Mogok, Lonekhin, Hpakant, Mawlu, Mawhan, Khamti and Monghsu.
“Since April 2016, the government has stopped renewing the licenses to mine at existing gem blocks. It has also suspended the licensing of new blocks. The remaining 8,000-odd blocks that are still actively mined are those with existing contracts. These will expire between this year and 2021,” said U Aung Nyunt Thein.
In the past, permits to mine at the jade and gem blocks were given for terms of five years.
“For now, all license renewals have been stopped. As the existing blocks expire, the number of active blocks will gradually be reduced,” he said.
New licenses or extensions of the existing jade and gem blocks will be considered only after the 2017 Gem Law, which is currently under Parliament review, is approved and enacted.
“The 2017 Gem Law is still under discussion at the Hluttaw. We are reducing the number of existing blocks until this legislation is stipulated. If we continue allowing extensions or renewals, there will be clashes and complications between the existing and upcoming legislation,” said U Aung Nyunt Thein.
There are now 8,277 acres of actively-mined blocks under joint ventures with the government. Meanwhile, blocks operated by private companies total more than 12,000 acres.
At least half the remaining blocks are located in Lonekhin and Hpakant. Several blocks are located at Mawlu, Mawhan and Hkanti, according to the Ministry’s website.
Small-scale blocks
However, some small-scale gem blocks will be allowed to operate in Khanni, Sagaing Region, where many residents are employed in the industry.
The government will allow locals to work at 303 small blocks located next to Nant Ma Lin stream in Khanni, U Moe Swe, director of the Department of Mines told The Myanmar Times on Tuesday.
“We’ll announce it via newspaper. Those who want to apply should have Form (10), criminal clearance recommendation letters from the police station and access cards to the blocks,” U Moe Swe said.
Blocks located upstream along Nant Ma Lin near Kachin State will also be made available for the locals. We will do it gradually,” he said.
However, as the blocks are near the mountain areas, work cannot be carried out using machines with more than 25 horsepower, said U Aung San Myint from the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability in Sagaing Region. “Locals will be given priority to work at these blocks,” he said.
The move comes after residents complained of large companies from outside the region being allowed to work at the blocks.
