Illegal exploitation of precious stone: Chinese nationals caught in the act

Last week, a malachite quarry located in the Commune of Betanantanana, District of Maintirano, in the Melaky region was shut down by authorities due to illegal exploitation perpetrated by Chinese nationals in that area. In order to stop such illegal activity, mine police agents and inspectors performed last week their own in-the-field investigations after being informed of the existence of illegal exploitation of malachite in the region. Actually, since the beginning of the exploitation, the mayor of Betanantanana reported having never received from the Chinese exploiters neither any document declaring the beginning of their activity, nor any mining license giving them the right to exploit the area. Besides, the Chinese exploiters did not have the environmental license delivered by the Environment Ministry. In sum, while conducting exploitation without any legal documents testifying their rights to undertake such activity, the Chinese nationals are violating the laws and codes regulating mining in Madagascar.

The local authority has been informed of the government officials’ decision to stop all activities in the quarries of Betanantanana and its surrounding communes. According to the mine experts’ first observation of the area, the losses caused by the illegal exploitation are surely very important. In fact, many huge blocks of malachite, innumerable pits and cracks on the ground left by heavy drilling vehicles witnessed the savage manners the Chinese nationals used to conduct their illegal exploitation. At the time being, investigations on the affair are still underway. Thus, investigators cannot yet give more details about the amount of malachite already exploited and exported. However, the first reports from the mine experts in the field are already in the hand of the Mine and Energy Minister. The latter has firmly condemned such law violations, and has decided to bring the case to court.