【新唐人2011年9月29日訊】中國稀土生產佔世界總產量的97%，歐盟為減少對中國的依賴，正在儲備稀土。而中國也試圖降低這種資源的生產量，嚴管稀土開採。不過，中國江西贛州盜採商戶在地方當局的包庇下，瘋狂盜採稀土出售，暴利驚人。加上濫採稀土，給當地帶來生態災難。請看報導。
香港《東方日報》28號報導，知情人士透露，今年上半年，在以前經濟屬於不發達的贛州，就湧現出約百個億萬富翁，千萬身家者不計其數，全部是稀土礦主，如今的江西贛州滿街都是名車。
贛州人張毅，今年初開始做稀土生意，現在身家已過億，因身邊不少朋友都換了車，他也打算換一輛寶馬跑車。
四川環保人士陳雲飛：「這些億萬富翁出現了，絕對有億萬富翁的官員。他們（官員）只是沒有暴露出來。他們要麼是裸官，要麼他是把錢存到國外，這肯定是官商勾結這裡面有，還有他們（開採者）是當官的代言人。」
稀土的珍貴，源於它的用途廣泛，包括冶金、機械、化工、陶瓷、皮革等。當中，冶金尤其重要，只要在鋼鐵和有色金屬中加入小量稀土，就能改善金屬性能。
報導說，在江西贛州，一噸礦就3萬元成本，可以賣40多萬，一車至少可以拉10噸，許多開採者只要幹1票，就可以賺4百多萬。有消息指出，許多稀土礦都有地方官員的股份，每年分紅數額驚人。
江西地質礦產部門林先生：「因為受這種利益驅使，由於稀土的價格在上漲，但是，你這種，因為稀土的覆層面積非常廣泛，而且開採也非常容易，第三個它的利益啊，受利益的驅使，它確實會存在。」
另外，由於土法開採及提煉稀土金屬，手法粗暴簡單，對周邊生態環境造成無可補救的嚴重侵害。當地農民多次要求當局嚴查，但都不了了之。目前，已有大批農民因為環境被污染，土地無法耕作而要出外打工。
四川環保人士陳雲飛表示，這樣沒有規劃、沒有計劃的開採，犧牲了幾代人的利益。
陳雲飛：「它是犧牲了幾代人的利益。一個是環保、一個環境利益，再一個是財富利益。它所有項目，它都沒有這個正規的，就是方方面面的專家論證過後。比如說，專業論證過後這個稀土，我們必須做長遠的規劃，今年開採多少，明年開採多少，它沒有搞這個，它就是看眼前的利潤。」
在贛州龍南縣，因稀土資源開採，導致生態破壞尤其惡劣，隨處可見紅褐色、寸草不生的裸露山體，清澗和河流已被污染成黃濁不堪的臭水，人畜灌溉皆不能用，農民只好蓄雨水備用。至於被酸水浸蝕過的農地，再也無法耕種。
江西環保工作人員：「但是我們就知道，它就是氨氮一定會超標，然後生態一定會破壞，地下水也肯定會受到影響。」
贛州有色冶金研究所副所長楊新華表示，整治稀土，迫在眉睫。
新唐人記者唐睿、柏妮採訪報導。
Illegal Mining Reaps Millions for Jiangxi Officials
While the rest of the China is trying to limit rare earth mining by applying stricter rules to its production,
in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, officials are collaborating
with business owners to illegally mine and sell rare earths,
reaping huge profits and brining ecological disaster to the area.
Hong Kong』s Oriental Daily News reported on September 28,
that according to sources, in the first half of 2011,
there were around a hundred billionaires
in the economically undeveloped city of Ganzhou,
including a multitude of millionaires, all of them being
rare earth mining business owners.
They all drive luxury cars and can be spotted everywhere in the city.
Zhang Yi, from Ganzhou City, started a rare earth business
earlier this year and already has a net worth in the billions.
Many of his friends have already upgraded their cars,
so he is considering buying a new BMW.
Sichuan environmental activist, Chen Yunfei:
“If business owners are becoming billionaires, there must be
government officials who are also becoming billionaires;
they』re just not making it obvious.
The business owners are paying off officials,
or they』re diverting the payback money abroad.
These business owners are definitely colluding with officials
and are acting as the voice of government officials."
Rare earths are valuable because of their versatility,
as they can be used in making metals, machine parts,
chemicals, ceramics, and leather.
Their most important use is in metallurgy, as adding a small
amount of rare earths to steel and nonferrous metals
can greatly improve their properties.
According to a report, in Ganzhou City, the cost of one ton
of rare earth is about 30,000 yuan (US$4,691),
but it can be sold for over 400,000 yuan (US$62,558).
One truck can carry at least 10 tons, so just one load
can net about 4 million yuan (US$625,492).
According to sources, local officials are shareholders
in these rare earth mining companies, reaping huge annual dividends.
Mr. Lin from the Department of Geology and Mineral Resources
in Jiangxi Province said, “Driven by financial interest,
the price of rare earths keeps rising.
Since rare earths have many industrial uses,
they can be easily mined, bringing fortunes to those involved."
Also, because the mining and refining process of rare earths
is generally being carried out in a careless manner,
irreparable damages is being done to the surrounding areas.
Local farmers have repeatedly requested that authorities perform
thorough investigations into the situation, but to no avail.
Many farmers are forced to perform hard labor in other cities
because their farm land is contaminated beyond repair.
Sichuan environmental activist, Chen Yunfei, said,
“Mining without a plan will affect many generations to come."
Chen: “It is at expense and interest of many future generations.
On one hand we are concerned about protecting the environment,
on the other hand, financial gains are at stake.
No mining project is ever evaluated by experts.
When mining rare earths, a business』』 operation needs
to be carefully evaluated and must go through long-term planning.
We have to limit the amount that can be mined each year.
No one does this, because all they care about is immediate profits."
In Ganzhou City, in Longnan County, the ecological damage
done there due to rare earth mining, has turned the soil red,
with barren hills spotted everywhere.
The once clear river has turned yellowish
with an unbearable strong smell, thus the river water cannot be used
to feed humans or animals.
Farmers can only stock up on rainwater.
After the farm land is exposed to acidic erosion,
it can no longer be used to grow food.
Jiangxi environmental staff: “We know that the ammonia content
is over the allowable limit, thus damaging the environment
and affecting underground water sources."
Ganzhou Nonferrous Metallurgy Research Institute,
deputy director, |Yang Xinhua said environmental remediation
of rare earths is imminent.
NTD reporters Tang Rui and Bo Ni.
