While most rare earth mining in Kachin State operates without permits, some companies have obtained official licenses that may serve as fronts for broader illegal operations. According to local sources citing a 2019 report from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, a Myanmar medical company called Myo Ko Ko was awarded a license to mine rare earth minerals across 281 acres of land in Chi-pwe Township – an area equivalent to 159 football fields. When Radio Free Asia (RFA) attempted to contact Myo Ko Ko regarding their mining activities and environmental impact, the company did not respond to enquiries. Similarly, the director of the Kachin State Department of Mines was unreachable for comment on the matter. This lack of transparency and accountability from both licensed operators and government officials highlights how even the limited legal framework for mining in the region has broken down, particularly since the military coup.