Tanai Gold Mining Area Resumes Operations After Nearly Two-Month Closure

Pajau Media

February 19, 2026

As fighting in the Tanai gold mining area has subsided, gold miners have begun returning to work via bypass routes, although the main road has not yet been officially reopened, according to local miners.

A worker from the gold mining site said, “Now that the KIA has regained control of the gold mining sites, they say we can resume work as before. But security cannot be guaranteed. That’s why gold workers are still worried. Inside the mining area, however, people have already started working again.”

Residents from the gold mining area had previously fled for their lives due to sudden clashes. As a result, now that they are returning to resume operations, they are having to rebuild from scratch and are facing numerous difficulties.

“Since no one can guarantee security, we still don’t dare to work confidently. Before, at La Pu Hka and Wailaw gold mining sites, there were drone bomb attacks targeting people operating machinery boats. That makes us very afraid,” another worker explained.

The Mine Khun road, which serves as the route to the Tanai gold mining area, remains blocked by militia forces. Although there are currently no active clashes, it is still not easy to resume operations as before.

The Tanai gold mining area had been closed for nearly two months after joint forces of the military junta and militia groups launched offensive attacks there starting in December 2025.

News – Pilan U