Thai Cabinet resolves to end gold exploration and mining nationwide

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - The Thai Cabinet has given a nod to a proposal from four ministries to stop gold exploration and mining nationwide for fears of contamination. Thai Industry Minister Atchaka Sribunruang told journalists of the update on Wednesday, saying it is the Cabinet's resolution at its weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House on May 10, as proposed by her ministry, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Atchaka explained that officials of the four ministries have found heavy metal in local residents and conflicts among them and they, thus, proposed the stoppage. Atchaka said 12 companies have sought licences for gold mining on 177 land plots in 10 Thai provinces in addition to an application for the mining on 107 land plots in Loei Province in the Thai Northeast, but concerned authorities do not think that gold mining in Thailand is commercially feasible because normally only two grams of gold have been obtained from one ton of ore and only 3-4 tons of gold, worth about 3.6 billion baht, have been produced annually in the country. The minister noted that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, who is also Chief of the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), had earlier banned any gold mining and exploration that caused pollution and local conflicts; therefore, the four ministries proposed the stoppage. The minister assured that the Thai government is ready to defend the decision for the sake of public interest. Meanwhile, Chart Hongjiamjan, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Primary Industries and Mines, revealed that the Thai government has allowed Akara Resources Public Company Limited, the country's most established gold mining business, to operate until the end of this year so that leftover ore could be used and impacts on its employees could be cushioned. According to the senior official, the Thai government has also ordered the company to quickly close its 3,000-rai mine (2.5 rais = 1 acre), located in the Lower Thai North, and rehabilitate the area within the three following years. Besides, the Thai government plans to spend about 130 million baht on treating local people who fell ill and cleaning 10 local artesian wells. (TNA)