CHAING RAI – A massive mining boom in Myanmar is raising serious environmental alarms along the border. The government of Myanmar has greenlit over 20 new mining operations in Tachileik. This bustling town sits right across from Thailand’s Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai.
These mining sites are rapidly extracting gold, manganese, and lead on a massive scale. Sadly, the heavy industrial activity is causing dangerous water pollution daily. Heavy metals are now spilling into the vital rivers shared by both neighboring countries.
Key Takeaways
- Myanmar approved 20 new mining sites near the Thai border, extracting gold, lead, and manganese.
- Toxic heavy metals like arsenic and lead are heavily polluting the Sai and Ruak rivers.
- Thai officials are rushing to install automatic water monitoring stations to protect local communities.
According to recent data, the Sai and Ruak rivers now show dangerous levels of contamination. Water tests frequently reveal arsenic and lead amounts well above safe public health standards. This ongoing pollution poses a direct threat to the health of nearby Thai communities.
Dr. Suebsakul Kidnukorn, a prominent academic, recently shed light on the exact numbers. He works at the School of Social Innovation at Mae Fah Luang University. He shared that the Myanmar government officially granted these mining permits to private companies.
Massive Scale of Border Mining Operations
The authorized operations include 12 gold mines, six manganese sites, and two lead mines. These private companies are digging up natural resources at a shocking and rapid pace. Almost all of these extracted minerals cross the border directly into Thailand.
This cross-border trade brings massive volumes of heavy metals into the country. Data from the Mae Sai Customs Checkpoint paints a very clear picture of this industry. In the 2024 fiscal year alone, Thailand imported over 8,180 tons of lead.
That number jumped drastically the following year, showing a clear spike in demand. By 2025, lead imports surged to more than 13,600 tons across the border. Even in the first ten months of 2026, the volume remained high at over 7,176 tons.
Manganese imports also tell a compelling story of heavy industrial output in the region. Thailand took in roughly 32,552 tons of manganese back in 2024. Although this specific number dropped in 2025, the overall mineral trade continues to flow steadily today.
Trade Boom Brings Heavy Environmental Costs
The busy Chiang Saen border crossing also handles similar industrial cargo every single day. Over the past three years, this checkpoint processed thousands of tons of silicon manganese. They also imported significant amounts of antimony during this time to support various industries.
Just recently, in August 2026, the border trade showed absolutely no signs of stopping. Mae Sai customs cleared over 2,500 tons of manganese worth roughly 6.1 million baht. They also processed nearly 920 tons of lead valued at 3.9 million baht.
Meanwhile, officials in Myanmar are supposedly monitoring the situation to ensure public safety. A committee from the Shan State Parliament visited the mining sites between July and October 2026. They claimed to check environmental compliance, proper waste management, and general workplace safety.
They also aimed to review the companies’ corporate social responsibility efforts for local villages. However, the committee has not released any official reports or findings to the public. This lack of transparency leaves border communities deeply anxious about their drinking water supply.
Thailand Rushes to Protect Vital Waterways
Back in Thailand, environmental agencies are urgently stepping up to face the growing crisis. Mr. Aweera Phakmat currently leads the Environmental and Pollution Control Office 1. He recently took a specialized team to inspect the riverbanks firsthand.
His team visited the Kok River in Chiang Mai to assess the current water conditions. They also closely inspected the severely impacted Sai and Ruak rivers in Mae Sai. Their main goal was to find the absolute best spots for new monitoring equipment.
The agency plans to install automatic water quality stations along these three major rivers. These high-tech stations will constantly check the river water for harmful heavy metal pollution. This constant tracking will help protect local residents from accidental toxic exposure.
Officials have already picked a site near the Hua Fai police station for the Sai River. For the Ruak River, they chose a local pumping station situated on Koh Chang. The final location for the Kok River station is still being finalized by the team.
These new monitoring tools are a crucial first step for ensuring overall public safety. However, they only measure the damage currently being done to the local ecosystem. Stopping the pollution at its true source will eventually require serious international cooperation.
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