A previously shuttered gold mine has been reopened in northern Thailand shocking locals who say the mine had poisoned their livestock, produce, and themselves.
According to the Straits Times, the Chatree complex in Pichit province was closed more than six years ago due to health and environmental concerns. Now, despite legal disputes and protests by villagers, the controversial gold mine is back in operation.
In 2016, the open-cut mine was ordered to halt operations due to its suspected negative effects on the environment. Its owner, an Australian company Kingsgate Consolidated, then launched a lawsuit seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for its shuttering.
However, after negotiations, the government agreed to reopen the mind in 2022. A Thai subsidiary, Akara Resources, operates the mine, which is Thailand’s most prominent.
Akara Resources mining manager,…
