Thap Khlo district

Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Dong Charoen, Bang Mun Nak, Taphan Hin and Wang Sai Phun of Phichit Province, Noen Maprang of Phitsanulok province, Wang Pong and Chon Daen of Phetchabun province.

In terms of geography, Thap Khlo is also the only district in Phichit that has mountain and community forest, which is part of the national park. Therefore, Thap Khlo is the only district where giant krajiao plants (Curcuma latifolia) grow, especially in the community forests of the Khao Chet Luk sub-district.

On 1 May 1983 the minor district (king amphoe) Thap Khlo was established as a subordinate of Taphan Hin district, from which four tambon were split off.{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=100|issue=65 ง|pages=1317|script-title=th:ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งท้องที่อำเภอตะพานหิน จังหวัดพิจิตร ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอทับคล้อ|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2526/D/065/1317.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510201014/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2526/D/065/1317.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2012|date=April 26, 1983|language=Thai}} On 13 August 1987 it was upgraded to a full district.{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=104|issue=156 ก special|pages=26–28|script-title=th:พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งอำเภอพญาเม็งราย อำเภอพบพระ อำเภอทับคล้อ อำเภอบ้านโคก และอำเภอโพธิ์ไทร พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๐|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2530/A/156/26.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406110025/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2530/A/156/26.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2012|date=August 12, 1987|language=Thai}}

Khao Chet Luk in the Thap Khlo district is the site of Thailand's largest gold mine, the Chatree Mining Complex. Akara Resources PCL, a Thai-Australian firm, owns and operates the mine. Akara is a subsidiary of Australian company, Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. The complex includes the Chatree South ore field, which began commercial production in November 2001, and the Chatree North ore field, which began production in November 2008. The complex also includes processing plants.{{cite web|title=Business Overview; Operations|url=http://www.akararesources.com/en/business/operations|website=Akara Resources PCL}} In 2015, the mine produced and exported four tonnes (4,000 kg) of gold. In May 2016, the Thai government announced that the Chatree mine would be closed at the end of 2016 due to environmental concerns. The mine has long been accused by local residents of poisoning residents, crops, and livestock. In January 2015 a government investigation team said that more than 300 neighboring villagers had tested positive for arsenic and manganese.{{cite news|last1=Sagoli|first1=Damir|title=Thailand to shut sole gold mine over environmental concerns|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-australia-mine-idUSKCN0Y11KU|accessdate=11 May 2016|work=Reuters|agency=Reuters|date=2016-05-10}}

Akara has asked the government to review its decision. The company was surprised that the cabinet adopted the resolution to close the mine given that a panel set up by the Ministry of Industry has not yet completed its investigation into pollution and health complaints. The panel, set up in 2015, is composed of state agencies, affected villagers, academics, environmentalists, and Akara representatives. The company claims that there is no conclusive link between the heavy metals and illnesses claimed by some villagers.{{cite news|last1=Wipatayotin|first1=Apinya|title=Akara ready for a fight| url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/994329/akara-ready-for-a-fight|accessdate=30 May 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=2016-05-30}} Blood tests on 1,004 residents in 14 communities living around the mining sites in 2014 and 2015 found that 42 percent of residents had high levels of manganese in their blood.{{cite news|last1=Wipatayotin|first1=Apinya|title=Locals struggle to cope with gold mine impacts|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/994325|accessdate=30 May 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=2016-05-30}} In July 2018, the committee looking into the case confirmed that toxic leaks have emanated from tailing storage at the mine. Evidence of leakage into nearby rice fields and an observation well were also confirmed.{{cite news |title=Study finds toxic leaks from Ankara tailings pond |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1507682/study-finds-toxic-leaks-from-akara-tailings-pond |accessdate=22 July 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=22 July 2018}}

Kingsgate will seek a settlement through arbitration procedures under the Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement "in order to recover the substantial losses that it has suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of the measures taken by the Thai government."{{cite news|last1=Kotani|first1=Hiroshi|title=Australia's Kingsgate battles Thai government over gold mine closure|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Commodities/Australia-s-Kingsgate-battles-Thai-government-over-gold-mine-closure?page=1|accessdate=10 December 2017|work=Nikkei Asian Review|date=10 December 2017}}

The district is divided into four sub-districts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 57 villages (muban). There are two townships (thesaban tambon), Thap Khlo and Khao Sai. Both cover parts of their respective tambons. There are a further four tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

{{reflist}}

• [http://amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=413&pv=35 amphoe.com]
• [http://www.kitco.com/news/2015-02-12/Akara-must-prove-it-s-a-clean-mine.html Akara Must Prove It's a Clean Mine]
• [http://www.bangkokpost.com/archive/villagers-near-phichit-gold-mine-poisoned-by-heavy-metals/445968 Villagers near Phichit gold mine poisoned by heavy metals]
• [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/920101/activists-baulk-at-new-mining-legislation Activists baulk at new mining legislation]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160416130033/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webmobile/life/The-price-of-precious-metals-30238115.html The price of precious metals]
• [https://suchons.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/all-that-glitters/ All That Glitters...]

{{Amphoe Phichit}}

Thap Khlo

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