History of Bawdwin Mine

Bawdwin mine

Mining was begun by Chinese workers in 1914. They produced only silver from mine ore and left slag near Bawdwin mine. Burmese kingdom of Mindon Min and Thibaw were unsuccessful in mining. The first prospecting license was issued to a private, Skaries Brothers of Rangoon. In 1903 it was transferred to Great Eastern Mining Company Limited. Great Eastern Mining Company was bought out by Burma Railway and Smelting Co, Ltd. in 1906. It was transferred to Burma Mines Company Limited in 1909. Burma Mines Company built smelting furnace to treat the slag at Mandaly, in 1909. Burma Mines Co, Ltd started exploration in Chinese old workings and a vertical shaft was commenced. Smelting began at Namtu in 1912.The main ore body; Chinaman Lode was discovered in 1913. Burma Corporation handed over from Burma Mines Co, Ltd. Burma Corporation produced mine ore 500,000 ton per year to 1942. During the Japanese occupation (1942-45) an estimated 200,000 tons of high-grade ore were extracted from the mine. After the Second World War, Burma Corporation reenter and continued the production of lead, Zinc and Sliver (1945-51).

Myanmar Government joined a joint-venture with Burma Corporation. The Bawdwin mine was nationalized in 1965 and the name of management has changed form the Peoples’ Bawdwin Industry, Bawdwin Corporation (1970), and No. 1 Mining Enterprise of the Ministry of Mine (1976).