A civil court has ruled in favour of villagers in Phichit and Phetchabun provinces, ordering Akara Resources Plc to pay compensation to 382 people affected by contamination linked to its gold mining operations. The judgement, delivered on 24 March 2026 at the Civil Court’s Environmental Division, mandates payments for health impacts, mental distress and loss of livelihood, as well as environmental rehabilitation.

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The case, filed in 2016 as a class action by Ms Suekanya Theerachatdamrong and three others representing local residents, alleged that the company’s Chatree gold mine caused the spread of toxic heavy metals. Villagers claimed exposure to substances including cyanide, arsenic, manganese and iron through air, water, and agricultural resources over a period of more than 20 years.

The court found sufficient evidence that heavy metals had leaked from Tailings Pond No.1 and spread via natural waterways, contaminating local canals and entering the bodies of nearby residents. It also accepted that dust from mining explosions contributed to health risks and environmental damage in surrounding communities.

Compensation was structured based on age and contamination levels. Individuals aged under 15 are to receive 200,000 baht if contamination exceeds safety thresholds, while those over 15 receive 100,000 baht. Lower amounts apply where contamination does not exceed limits, alongside additional payments for mental distress, medical costs and loss of access to clean water and natural resources.

Picture courtesy of Naewna

The court also ordered the company to fully restore affected public waterways, soil, and reservoirs, and to safely close and cover the contaminated tailings site under official supervision. Other claims were dismissed.

Villagers expressed relief at the ruling, stating that while compensation may not fully reflect the long-term impact, it acknowledges their suffering and could improve local living conditions. Around 50 residents attended the hearing to hear the verdict.

Naewna reported that legal representatives noted that individuals not included in the original 382 claimants may still seek compensation by submitting medical evidence through the Legal Execution Department. A screening committee will assess additional claims for eligibility.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Naewna 25 Mar 2026

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16 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The case, filed in 2016 as a class action by Ms Suekanya Theerachatdamrong

Suekanya "Erin" Brokodamrong has a nice ring to it.

The latest court ruling against Akara Resources (the Thai subsidiary of the Australian mining company Kingsgate) is not some isolated incident! It’s the culmination of more than a decade of environmental harm, community suffering, and corporate evasiveness surrounding the Chatree Gold Mine.

Both Kingsgate and Akara Resources deserve to be called out for their long, troubling record. For years, villagers have reported contaminated water, toxic dust, and serious health impacts. Independent tests repeatedly found elevated levels of arsenic, manganese, and cyanide‑related compounds in residents’ blood.

Thai courts previously ruled that the company breached environmental protection laws and failed to conduct proper impact assessments.

What makes this saga even more disgraceful is that when the Thai government finally shut the mine in 2016 due to public‑health concerns, Kingsgate didn’t accept responsibility. Instead, it launched a multi‑billion‑baht international arbitration case under the Thailand–Australia Free Trade Agreement.

That legal pressure hung over Thailand for years, despite the company already having received a large political‑risk insurance payout.

Critics in both countries have long argued that the ISDS mechanism effectively allowed Kingsgate to strong‑arm Thailand, and that the Australian government bears responsibility for creating and maintaining the trade framework that enabled it.

Thai civil‑society groups were blunt: the settlement that allowed the mine to reopen was a win for Kingsgate and a loss for the affected communities.

Now, with this new ruling ordering compensation for nearly 400 villagers, the Thai courts have effectively confirmed what locals have been saying all along, that the mine caused real harm.

After everything these communities have endured, the very least Kingsgate and Akara Resources could do is accept the judgment without dragging the victims through yet another round of appeals.

One can only hope they don’t disgrace themselves further by trying to overturn a decision that finally acknowledges the suffering of the people who have lived with the consequences of this mine for far too long.