Myanmar military retakes gold mine after year-long resistance control

Myanmar’s military has regained control of the Phayaung Taung gold mine in Mandalay Region’s Patheingyi Township, a year after losing it to resistance forces. The Mandalay People’s Defence Force (MDY-PDF), which captured the mine in August of last year, confirmed that its troops withdrew from the site over the weekend amid a renewed junta offensive backed by heavy artillery, drones, and air support. “Yes, we’ve pulled back from Phayaung Taung, but fighting is ongoing nearby,” MDY-PDF spokesperson Ko Osmond told Myanmar Now on Monday. Pro-junta media circulated photos on Saturday claiming the military had regained full control of the site and that PDF fighters had retreated toward a nearby processing plant. Local sources say the resistance forces conducted a withdrawal after several days of heavy clashes. Located 14 miles northeast of the city of Mandalay, the Phayaung Taung mine covers an area of more than 5,400 acres and holds large deposits of gold and other minerals. It is jointly operated by Mining Enterprise No. 2 and Myanmar Golden Point Family Co., Ltd., a company owned by Maung Ko, Mandalay Region’s former junta-appointed chief minister. Before it was captured, the mine had been a major revenue source for the military in the wake of its 2021 coup. An estimated 120 tons of ore were excavated daily from the open-pit mine, producing at least 1.5kg of gold each month, according to a report submitted by the regime’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation in early 2023. The junta has recently recaptured a number of key towns in Mandalay Region and Shan and Karenni states that were lost to resistance groups over the past two years. However, more than 60 towns remain under the control of anti-junta forces.

Myanmar military retakes gold mine after year-long resistance control

Anti-junta groups confirmed that they withdrew from the site over the weekend amid a renewed offensive by junta forces

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