Mining
From The Report: Myanmar 2015
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With a wealth of untapped geological resources, including the world’s richest jade and ruby mines, Myanmar is set to attract a flood of foreign investment into its high-potential mining sector. In the decades to come, mining is expected to be one of the top drivers of Myanmar’s economic development. Current growth is being driven by a number of smaller projects in metals and by a boom in tin ore output from existing mines. Coal output is growing rapidly, thanks mainly to rising output from the Kalewa basin, in the Sagaing region west of Mandalay. The scale of opportunities in the sector is such that there are already dozens of international mining firms visiting Myanmar, studying its geology and applying or preparing to apply for exploration licenses. A reform that may clear away obstacles to international exploration was adopted in August 2014, allowing foreign investors to own up to 100% of mining licenses. While the wave of exploration expected to be released by reforms will take many years to convert into production, the mining industry appears to be in the early stages of a long-lasting expansion.

This chapter contains interviews with Dr Myint Aung, Minister of Mines; and U Maung Ko, Chairman, Myanmar Federation of Mining Association (CEC).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Many mark 2015 as the start of a period of long-term industry growth
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Mining is expected to be a top driver of Myanmar’s economic development in the decades ahead thanks to the country’s unusually diverse and largely untapped geological resources. While the government has been reluctant to allow outsiders into the world’s richest jade and ruby mines, Myanmar appears poised to attract a flood of foreign investment into its underexplored potential to produce metals, ores and industrial minerals, especially copper, tin, nickel and gold. There are numerous obstacles…

Interview

Dr Myint Aung, Minister of Mines: Interview
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Interview: Dr Myint Aung Recent reforms have made Myanmar a desirable investment destination. How can the country attract further foreign investment to the mining sector? DR MYINT AUNG: Extensive measures have been put in place to encourage sustainable development, and this should be able to result in benefits for both investors and the government. These efforts have been documented in the new mining law. For example, minimising mineral losses has been identified as a priority. It is vital that…

Interview

U Maung Ko, Chairman, Myanmar Federation of Mining Association (CEC): Interview
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Interview: U Maung Ko How has the mining sector evolved in recent years in comparison to other sectors of the economy? U MAUNG KO: For decades Myanmar’s merchants, local businesses, and national and regional governments lost contact with the international community. Thanks to ongoing democratic reform, countries that had a relationship with Myanmar in the past have started to reengage. Foreign companies have begun investing in the country again, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on…

Analysis

Revising the law: Mining legislation updates should improve clarity and production
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A new wave of mining exploration is getting under way in Myanmar, and it has been a long time coming. With a few exceptions, Myanmar has been generally cut off from developments in the international mining industry since the days of the British Empire. After the Second World War, the newly independent Burma was too politically unstable to attract much new exploration or development before all mines and underground resources were nationalised in the 1960s. Myanmar briefly opened up in the 1990s by…