“AMARI Group (Australia) Co. has applied to the Mandalay government to perform gold and gold-related mineral exploration, mining and feasibility studies in an area called Block C currently allocated to Moehti Moemi Co.,” U Ye Myint Swe said.
Myanmar San Thi Aung Co. was granted a concession to mine gold in Block C from May 2012 to May 2017, but it was not able to carry out production, so the concession was cancelled in August 2013.
Gold mining concessions have also been suspended in Blocks A and B in Moehti Moemi. Block A was worked by the National Prosperity Gold Production Group Ltd. from 2011 to 2018.
Although its contract was amended in 2013 and 2014 due to difficulties the company had in working the area, it failed to pay the full amount required to the government under the concession, and the ministry suspended the agreement last February.
U Ye Myint Swe said the government is suing the company to recover the gold it owes to the government as payment. Depending on the outcome of the legal action, the ministry will consider allowing other companies to work the block.
Shwe Moe Yan Co. was granted permission in 2011 to mine gold at Block B. Its contract was amended in 2013 and 2014, but the company failed to pay the government the agreed amount of gold, and its concession was suspended in November 2017.
Although gold mining and exploration has been suspended in Moehti Moemi, illegal mining continues, said U Tun Tun Win, MP for Yamethin.
“Despite being against the law, gold is being illegally taken out of the area,” he added.
He urged the government to restart legal mining in the area as soon as possible to create jobs.
Source: Myanmar Times
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