The government confirms that Kingsgate has voluntarily withdrawn its arbitration request, unconditionally ending the Akara gold mine dispute, closing an 8-year saga with Thailand not required to pay compensation.
On 18 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet was informed of progress in resolving the dispute between the Kingdom of Thailand and Kingsgate Consolidated Limited regarding the Akara gold mine under the Thailand–Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA). Recently, both parties agreed to voluntarily end the dispute, marking good news for the country.
The Deputy Spokesperson stated that the Cabinet meeting received a report from Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Minister of Industry, that Kingsgate had formally withdrawn all claims before the arbitration panel unconditionally. The arbitration panel has officially terminated the proceedings, resulting in the complete end of the dispute that lasted over eight years since 2017, with Thailand not required to pay any compensation previously demanded by the company.
She added that the Ministry of Industry reported this success stemmed from proactive work by the dispute resolution team, which systematically strategized and closely collaborated with relevant agencies and legal advisors. They used a “dual-track” approach—fully preparing to contest the arbitration case while simultaneously engaging in amicable negotiations based on legal principles—always adhering to the key principle of not imposing a burden on Thailand. This led to the voluntary resolution of the dispute.
This dispute resolution confirms Thailand’s capability to manage international cases carefully, transparently, and with public interest at the center, also considering environmental, public health, and economic security dimensions.
“The government affirms that this dispute resolution resulted from unified efforts of all involved agencies and serves the highest benefit of the nation, its people, and Thailand’s international image,” the Deputy Spokesperson said.