Big Take The Rebel Army Behind One of the World’s Major Rare-Earth Supplies
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Oct 10, 2025 Timothy McLaughlin, a journalist with Bloomberg based in Singapore, dives into Myanmar's rare-earth mining landscape. He reveals how the Kachin Independence Army has taken control of most mines, complicating global supply chains. The discussion highlights China's reliance on these resources amid geopolitical tensions. Timothy also covers the environmental impacts of mining and explores potential future sources of rare earths as U.S.-China dynamics evolve. This complex scenario positions the KIA as a pivotal force in an increasingly contested market.
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Dystopian Mines In A Scenic Valley
- Timothy McLaughlin describes Penghua's mines as industrial and dystopian set in a beautiful landscape.
- He highlights piles, pools and pipes transforming hilltops into mining operations.
How Myanmar Extracts Rare Earths
- Myanmar uses in situ leaching: pipes drip chemicals into hillsides and collect rare-earth sludge in pools.
- The sludge is drained, baked in large furnaces, and processed into rare-earth oxides for export.
China's Shutdown Shifted Mining Overseas
- China shut many domestic rare-earth mines around 2010 over environmental damage and shifted production across the border to Myanmar.
- Satellite imagery shows new mines, pools and roads built as miners moved operations into Kachin State.