Major update on tin mining in Wa state

The International Tin Association has made a press release where it informs that Wa State (Myanmar) authorities have released a framework for applications for mining, processing, and prospecting licenses in the autonomous region. This development follows the suspension of tin mining operations in August 2023.

Licensing

Applications for licenses must now be submitted to the Wa State Industrial and Mineral Administration Office. As part of the approval process, surveyors will visit mine sites to validate data and determine licensing fees. Final approval comes from the Economic Planning Committee (EPC), followed by payment of fees to the Bureau of Industry and Mines, which will issue the licenses.

This announcement is a crucial step toward resuming tin mining in Wa State. Before the suspension, Myanmar was the third-largest tin producer globally, with most output coming from the Man Maw mining area in Wa.

Fresh restart

A new mining tax scheme was introduced by the EPC in February 2024, but it did not indicate plans to restart tin mining. Moreover the mining ban was partially lifted in January 2024 for other minerals; however, the Man Maw mining area was specifically excluded, despite investor requests.

This move signals a potential revival of Myanmar’s tin industry, an essential player in the global supply chain.