Illegal miners works at abandoned tin mine in Bangka Isla

Illegal miners works at abandoned tin mine in Bangka Island, Indonesia. Illegal mine workers dig into abandoned pits to collect tin. Landslide, arrest and even exposure to radiation are risks they have to take. Photo by @shinwoongjae Tin is one of essential materials for manufacturing semiconductor and electronic components. Bangka amounts to 30% of global tin supply and it's the biggest portion.
For more than 300 years, tin mining has been main industry of Bangka Island, and 60% of Bangka residents are engaged in tin industry. However, for past decades, worldwide soaring demands for tin brought out countless illegal mining, and the whole island is facing serious environmental destruction and human exploitation as consequences. Recently, Indonesian government initiated regulation on tin production and distribution to protect tin industry and environment. #FromSandToAsh #indonesia #bangka #bangkaisland #bangkabelitung #tin #mining #illegalmining #electronicindustry #conflictminerals #conflictmaterials #documentary #photojournalism #asia #everydayasia