Namtu
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Namtu ၼမ်ႉတူႈ (Shan) |
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| Town | |
 Namtu
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| Coordinates: 23°5′33″N 97°24′4″E / 23.09250°N 97.40111°ECoordinates: 23°5′33″N 97°24′4″E / 23.09250°N 97.40111°E | |
| Country | Burma |
| State | Shan State |
| District | Kyaukme District |
| Township | Namtu Township |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Ethnicities | Shan, Palaung |
| • Religions | Buddhism |
| Time zone | MST (UTC+6.30) |
Namtu (Shan: ၼမ်ႉတူႈ) is a town in northern Shan State, Burma. Famous for its Bawdwin and Namtu silver mines, it is situated on the Nam Tu River, and is connected to Lashio by the Burma Mines Railway.
The Namtu Bawdwin Mines were the world's largest source of lead, and one of the world's largest sources of silver before the Second World War. Before the British arrived in the 1880s, the Saopha of Tawngpeng controlled the mines at Namtu, although the mining work was undertaken not by the Palaung but by the Chinese from Yunnan Province across the border. The mines fell into disuse when the lode was followed to the ground water level. They were revived by the British and the largest mines were operated by the Burma Corporation at the beginning of the 20th century. Today the Namtu mines are under state control, known as No 1 Mining Enterprise and run by the Ministry of Mines.
Lead, zinc and nickel are also produced by the mines. Zinc was bought mainly by Japan, and the other minerals sent to Namtu for smelting before being marketed abroad.
In February 1998, 3,000 workers went on strike for better working conditions and increase in wages for underground miners.
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