"Locals point to severe water pollution near Akara gold mine", 19 November 2017

People living near Akara’s gold mine in Phichit have reported water pollution in local canals and paddy fields….

Local gold mine protester…claimed that the polluted water had come from a spring in a paddy field near the gold mine’s tailing storage facility. The mining company has denied that any leakage has occurred.

The polluted water in the canal and paddy field near the gold mine had a very bad smell that irritated people’s respiratory tracts. Many dead fish have also been found in the canal.

…Akara…denied that the polluted water had leaked from the gold mine’s tailing storage facility and claimed this was another effort by the opposition group to defame the company.

“…Our gold mine has suspended its operations since January and our tailing storage facility is properly built and will not leak….”

The environmental and health impacts from the Chatree gold mine have always been a hot issue between the gold mine operator and the opposition group.

This was the main reason for the government ordering the closure of the gold mine in January. The closure has triggered Akara’s parent company in Australia, Kingsgate Consolidated, to sue the Thai government. That case continues.