Race for rare earths at Myanmar’s borders fuels pollution fears
The extraction of rare earth minerals in Myanmar's conflict-ridden border regions is raising significant environmental concerns. Russian and Chinese companies are vying for access to mines, particularly for tungsten, in an area controlled by various armed factions. This competition, coupled with mining practices like in-situ leaching, is leading to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution in local river systems, impacting both Myanmar and Thailand. AI
