By Kantarawaddy Times
The price of tungsten from mines in Hpasoung Township, Karenni State has fallen, while the cost of food, fuel and living expenses have skyrocketed.
An owner of a mining block in Mawchi, requesting anonymity, has explained his predicament to Khonumthung News.
“If we trim down labour costs, our workers will hardly be able to survive, but if we don’t, profits will be affected, he said.
Most mines pay their employees $5 for a day’s work.
”We’re trying to find a balance between labour costs and profits. What we’d like most is for the price of tungsten to go up a bit,” the man said.
A local woman, who also requested anonymity, says she’s never seen it this bad.
”Chinese businessmen who used to pay $27 a viss (1.63 kg) now only want to pay $8!” she explained.
The central government controls the removal of tungsten from the mine in Mawchi, which is over 100 years old. Of the 70 blocks in mine field No. 3, 30 have already been extracted.
