The Mining Guild, alternatively known as the Galactic Mining Guild, represented a formidable network of miners who harvested and managed the distribution of natural resources across the galaxy. Originally a component of the Commerce Guild, it briefly sided with the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars before entering into a collaborative relationship with the Galactic Empire throughout its reign.
Early strongholds of the Mining Guild encompassed worlds such as Empress Teta, a crucial source of carbonite with connections to the initial stages of hyperspace travel. Through the exploitation, and at times, the deliberate creation of interplanetary instability, the guild broadened its sphere of influence over numerous millennia, ultimately achieving dominance over the galaxy's resources. The Desler Gizh Outworld Mobility Corporation was also a part of the guild. The guild then integrated as a part of the Commerce Guild.
By the time the Clone Wars began, the Mining Guild held sway over the Tetan monarchy and controlled countless metal-rich planets situated in the spiral arms of the galaxy. Alongside various other galactic conglomerates, including the Commerce Guild, the Mining Guild chose to oppose the Galactic Republic and align itself with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, compelling its member worlds, such as Empress Teta, to follow suit. Following the defeat of the Separatists and the transition of the Republic into the Galactic Empire, the guild avoided Imperial retribution by pledging allegiance to Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine.
During the Imperial Era, the Mining Guild openly cooperated with the Galactic Empire, supplying raw materials to the Imperial war effort at reduced rates. In return, the guild gained authorization to utilize a modified variant of the Imperial TIE/ln starfighter. The guild was also able to retain authority over its own mining activities, preventing them from being seized by the Empire. The Mining Guild provided security for spice mining operations on the planet Kessel, the primary source of spice for much of the galaxy. Slaves belonging to the Pyke Syndicate or the Empire worked the mines, and they also had a security role on Kessel.
In 3 BBY, the Guild operated an Asteroid Belt Gas Refinery situated on a small planetoid, where they were extracting Clouzon-36 gas. However, this facility was discovered by the Spectres, an anti-Empire rebel group, who stole its fuel to aid their rebellion and subsequently destroyed the complex. Despite losing the Clouzon-36 refinery, the Mining Guild continued to be a powerful entity.
The Mining Guild dispatched agents to oversee and protect its interests in the spice mines on Kessel, ensuring its share of the profits. In 10 BBY, agent Yorsh Manted was present during the Raid on Kessel and the resulting slave uprising.
The Mining Guild routinely patrolled the Sereeda Waypoint, a hyperspace waypoint situated within their claimed territory. In 2 BBY, the Spectres once again encountered the Guild, this time in the Sereeda, as they were forced to briefly exit hyperspace to recalibrate their jump. The Guild deployed two TIE fighters and demanded that the rebels pay a hyperspace toll, but the Spectres destroyed the fighters and jumped back into hyperspace.
After facing rejection from both the Bounty Hunters' Guild and the Grand Hutt Council, General Davits Draven of the Alliance communicated with Senator Mon Mothma regarding the potential for an alliance with the Mining Guild, arguing that the Mining Guild's cooperation with the Empire was merely a matter of convenience, not ideological alignment. Around this time, the Alliance was investigating Mining Guild operations on Ord Mantell, Raxus Prime, The Wheel, Vergesso, the Ring of Kafrene, Smuggler's Run, Takodana, and Nar Shaddaa.
Cloud City, a tibanna gas mining operation situated in the atmosphere of the planet Bespin, managed to maintain its operations on a small scale and avoid affiliation with either the Empire or the Mining Guild. This was advantageous for its clientele, who wished to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
By the time the First Order rose to power and the Resistance was formed, the Mining Guild was still in operation, though the Resistance believed it was not as powerful as it once was. Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo thought that this increased the possibility of the Mining Guild accepting a partnership with the Resistance.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Crait during the war between the First Order and the Resistance, the guild had been extracting [carnium](/article/carnium] from the moon of Kyzring, which was abundant in the material, for a number of years. The guild would take what it could use, and Poe Dameron shared this information with fellow Resistance member Rey during a training exercise.
Due to its association with the Empire, the Guild received permission to utilize a specialized variant of the Imperial TIE fighter, distinguished by its yellow color scheme and two notches removed from its wings. For enhanced security, the Mining Guild also employed yellow Aurore-class freighters and X4 Gunships. On Lothal around 1 BBY, the Mining Guild used ore crawlers to scour the landscape for raw materials, as well as Mining Guild excavation drillers for large-scale operations. For security on the crawlers, yellow IG-RM droids with weak audio receptors were deployed. The Mining Guild also utilized phase connectors.