A file photo shows people gather around machines at a jade mine in Pharkant, Kachin state. Photo: Reuters
THE licences of over 2,700 jade mining blocks in six jewellry territories including Lonekhin and Hpakant jade mining sites have expired for over the past seven months, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
A total of 2,772 licences for jade mining sites located in Lonekhin, Hpakant, Hkamti, Mongshu, Mogkok and Nantyaseik mining areas in Kachin State expired between July last year and January this year.
The Myanma Gems Enterprise announced that licences for 321 jade blocks expired in July, 365 in August, 321 in September, 273 in October, 957 in November, 350 in December and 195 in January.
The ministry granted seven-year permit and five-year permit for jade mining companies operating in Lonekhin and Hpakant jewellry territories. The majority of similar business in Mohnyin and Hkamti mining areas obtained licenses in 2011 and the rest from other mining sites received the permission in 2013.
The ministry would neither allow license renewal nor grant permits for new jade blocks in Hpakant area.—Khine Khant