The minister told Hinthar Media on April 19 that he inspected the antimony refinery plants after receiving reports on the emission of bad odor from the refinery plants, which are running on a trial-base with permission from the Mon State government.

“I have personally made the inspection and interviewed the local residents. Some of them said they can smell the bad odor but some said they don't smell the bad odor. I didn’t smell anything when I was there,” said the minister.

The minister has instructed the antimony refinery plants to submit monthly reports and the Department of Environmental Conservation to make surprise checks on the refinery plants.

“I can smell the odor when the factory is running. The odor is something. I couldn’t breathe well and I cough a lot when I smell the odor. My throat feels itchy. I couldn’t stand it when it smelled really bad,” said Daw Khin Lay Nwe, who is running We Mon printing service at Mawlamyine Industrial Zone.

Daw Than Hla, who lives in Mawlamyine Industrial Zone, also said: “I have a headache when I smell the bad odor. I can't stand it for long.”

Six antimony refinery plants from Mawlamyine Industrial Zone were temporary shut down by the previous administration after local residents suffered from skin allergies, coughing, and headaches due to the emission of bad odor and poisonous gas from the refinery plants.

However, the current government have allowed three out of six antimony refinery plants to run on a trial-base since the end of last year after the refinery plants submitted three reports including the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

The three antimony refinery plants that are running on a trial-basic are Myanmar Shin Shin Metal, Myanmar San Zaw, and Northeast Sin Phyu Taw Antimony Refinery Plant.