Chinese-backed copper mining project attacked in Sagaing Region

Resistance forces launched an attack on a Chinese-backed copper mining project in Sagaing Region’s Salingyi Township on Saturday, according to local residents. The strike targeted a worksite operated by Myanmar Yang Tse Copper Ltd., a local subsidiary of China’s Wanbao Mining Company, at around 10am. The artillery shells detonated near staff housing located next to the worksite, which is situated in the Kyay Sin Taung mountain range. “One shell landed near the housing but caused no injuries,” said a former Myanmar Wanbao employee in his 30s. “Other shells fell nearby, with most hitting areas close to the workshops.” As of late Monday, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, and the company had not issued a statement. Operations at the Myanmar Wanbao and Myanmar Yang Tse copper mining sites were temporarily halted after the incident, but residents reported that blasting resumed the following day. “They usually blast rocks around 3:30 in the afternoon. I heard it yesterday when they started blasting at the usual time,” a local resident told Myanmar Now on Monday. Following the attack, junta troops inside the factory compound fired four artillery shells at nearby villages, according to locals. Later in the day, troops based at the Northwestern Regional Military Command, located across the Chindwin River in Monywa, carried out paramotor strikes on villages near the Myanmar Yang Tse project. “Around 3:30pm., a paramotor from the Northwestern Command flew over the Yang Tse company area and dropped bombs on the nearby villages of Tei Pin Kan and Shwe Pan Khaing. I haven’t heard of any casualties. The bombs landed behind the Yang Tse company, outside the fence,” said a local man. Most employees at the copper mining project joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) after the military seized power in February 2021, bringing operations to a halt. However, despite calls from resistance groups to stop mining in the area—a major revenue source for the junta—the company has been trying to resume operations. Campaigns targeting CDM employees eventually convinced many to return to work, and operations have been running at nearly full capacity since mid-year, according to locals. On August 16, resistance forces attacked junta troops guarding Myanmar Wanbao’s office. In retaliation, the regime launched artillery and paramotor strikes, killing two civilians, including an elderly person. Some locals believe the attack on Saturday may have been a warning from the resistance, especially after reports emerged that the junta planned to force mine workers to vote early in the upcoming election. A joint venture between Wanbao—a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned arms manufacturer NORINCO—and Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, a military-controlled conglomerate, the copper mining project yields millions of dollars in profits for the regime. In 2021, the Australia-based group Publish What You Pay reported that the Letpadaung copper mining project in Sagaing Region generated $417 million in revenue, while the Sabae Taung and Kyay Sin Taung projects brought in $187 million.

Chinese-backed copper mining project attacked in Sagaing Region

No injuries were reported in the incident, which comes as the company running the project pushes to resume full operations

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