Imperial Mining Institute

The Imperial Mining Institute was a scientific research agency that operated under the authority of the Galactic Empire during the Imperial Era. They were tasked with identifying and evaluating mineral-rich regions within the Empire's domain to support Imperial Military and industrial efforts. They were active on the Outer Rim world Lothal, where one of their analysts, Ria Clarr, recommended the mining of Lothal's farms. This resulted in large-scale mining operations and population displacements, leading to the establishment of settlements such as Tarkintown, the conditions within which prompted Clarr to wipe her research from the institute and defect in 4 BBY.

Description

The Imperial Mining Institute was a scientific research agency that served the development interests of the Galactic Empire during the Imperial Era. Its activities included providing reports on mineral-rich areas under Imperial control to prepare for mining, such as for Imperial Military production and industrial efforts. It operated on^[1] the Outer Rim world^[2] Lothal.^[1]

History

During the Empire's occupation of Lothal, the Imperial Mining Institute studied areas of the planet that could be ripe for mineral mining. Ria Clarr, an analyst who worked for the institute, conducted several geological surveys and determined that a rich vein of ore laid below Lothal farms,^[1] including those in the farming community of Tangletown.^[3] Clarr prepared a report about her findings and personally convinced Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin,^[1] the Governor of the Outer Rim,^[2] that mining would be worth the effort to extract the ore, believing that it would help lift Lothal's citizens out of poverty.^[1]

The result of Clarr's report was the forced relocation of farming communities,^[1] including Tangletown,^[3] to Lothal re-settlement camp 43—or Tarkintown, as it came to be derisively known. Clarr regretted her recommendation once she saw, contrary to Imperial propaganda, the poor conditions the people of Tarkintown were forced to live in. She wiped her research and defected from the Imperial Mining Institute^[1] in 4 BBY,^[4] turning her attention to providing aid to the people of Tarkintown in defiance of the Empire.^[1]

Members

The Imperial Mining Institute's personnel included research analysts such as Ria Clarr, who was responsible for conducting and reporting on geological surveys for potential mining opportunities that could benefit the Empire's production efforts. Grand Moff Tarkin had direct access to personnel like Clarr and her reports. The Empire hunted Clarr as a traitor as a result of her defection and erasure of databases for Lothal's geological surveys.^[1]

Behind the scenes

The Imperial Mining Institute was first referenced in "Rebel Bluff," a short story published in the 158th issue of the Star Wars Insider magazine,^[1] which was published on June 9, 2015.^[5] In the Star Wars Legends continuity, the Mining Corps was first mentioned in The Last of the Jedi: Against the Empire, a 2007 novel written by Jude Watson.^[6]

Appearances

• "Rebel Bluff" — Star Wars Insider 158 (reprinted in Star Wars Insider: The Fiction Collection Volume 2) (First mentioned)

Notes and references