Gold Mining Continues in Shwegu Despite KIO Ban

Pajau Media

March 26, 2026

Although the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has issued an order banning gold mining in Shwegu Township, local sources says that gold mining activities are still ongoing.

The KIO government announced on February 6 that gold mining along the Ayeyarwady River in Shwegu Township is prohibited. However, the military junta reinstated permission for gold mining starting from the last week of February.

In addition, local sources report that urban business owners in Shwegu, military commission troops, their associates, and entrepreneurs from Bhamaw have resumed mining in cooperation with the military commission.

Gold mining along the Ayeyarwady River and riverbanks in Shwegu Township has caused disruptions to river flow and poses risks to the natural environment, leading local residents to oppose these mining activities.

News: Hpring