Viral video exposes devastating toll of state-approved mining in Tibet

A recently circulated video from Drongri village in Tsonga Township, Markham County, Chamdo City, Tibet, has brought to light the severe environmental consequences of government-sanctioned mining operations. The footage, captured by local villagers, depicts extensive ecological degradation, including deforested hillsides, landslides, and damaged homes. Accompanying the video is a written note detailing the adverse effects on the community, such as compromised agricultural land, increased flooding, soil erosion, and contaminated water sources.

A senior villager in the video expresses frustration over the prioritization of mining activities over the well-being of the local population. He states, “The miner informed us that the excavation of the mineral mountains and road construction to the mining site was approved by party leaders, presenting us with documents authorized by county and township governments.”

According to Tibet Watch, Chinese mining operations have been active in the area since August 2020, with villagers enduring a series of environmental disasters since then. The strict information controls in Tibet imposed by Chinese authorities have made it challenging to obtain further details about the mining company involved or any potential compensation for the villagers.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of environmental exploitation in Tibet. In April 2024, a video titled “The Change of Amnye Machen” circulated widely on Chinese social media, highlighting the alarming rate of glacier melting on the sacred Amnye Machen mountain. Produced by the Plateau Nature Conservancy in Qinghai Province, the video describes how the snow of Amnye Machen is melting at an alarming rate of 17 meters per year, threatening its existence within decades. Despite this environmental crisis, mining activities around the mountain have continued, raising concerns about the long-term ecological impact.

Tibet, often referred to as the “water tower of Asia” due to its abundant glaciers and rivers, is rich in strategic minerals such as copper, iron, lead, zinc, and lithium. While China’s demand for these minerals has grown, particularly for lithium used in modern batteries, mining in Tibet has come at a significant environmental cost. Critics describe this as a “resource curse,” where resource extraction benefits external actors while leaving local populations to bear the brunt of environmental and social destruction.

The situation in Drongri village underscores the urgent need for responsible and sustainable resource management in Tibet to protect both the environment and the livelihoods of its inhabitants.