NEW July 2011
Francophone West Africa: Reducing Mercury in Artisanal Gold Mining
Funded by the US Department of State
Francophone West Africa: Reducing Mercury in Artisanal Gold Mining
Funded by the US Department of State
The principle goal of the project is to develop and implement an intervention model that self replicates to reduce and eventually eliminate mercury use in small scale gold mining operations, while improving health, environment and wealth of ASGM communities. Self-replication requires incentives and education. Measures of success for the intervention model will include: improvement of economic opportunities for miners and their communities, increased knowledge of health, safety, and environment, and a measured reduction in mercury use.
The project includes training and education programs using a variety of approaches including print media, demonstrations, social media, and cell phones. There are four phases to the project: (A) Preliminary Coordination; (B) Pilot Community Implementation and Training; (C) Replication to Other Communities; (D) Evaluation, Project Closure and Future Planning.
Mercury Watch Website: AGC & UNEP
Introduction of direct smelting technology in Ghana
The AGC is working with UMaT to develop, improve, and introduce direct smelting technology to groups of miners who use mercury to recover gold. Over the past five years, UMaT has successfully developed a direct smelting kit which has been provided to miners at subsidized rates. This work has demonstrated that purifying gold without the use of mercury is possible in this context.The kit consists of an efficient furnace, a few common compounds, and some other tools which enable gold concentrates to be directly smelted, thereby avoiding the mercury amalgamation step.
United Nations Environment Program and the Artisanal Gold Council are working to produce a Technical Document on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM). The purpose of the document is to provide examples of existing technologies that can reduce mercury use in ASM communities, and implementing strategies for short and long term goals. This document will assist governments with the development of mercury reduction programs but is also being designed to be an easy-to-access source of basic education regarding ASGM processing considerations.
The project aims to to strengthen and enhance other ongoing actions related to work in ASGM communities. Information on operational and access requirements required for implementation of various technologies will be included. The document will also address the social and economic aspects that sometimes prevent new technologies from being adopted. Testing and development of the document in 2010 has included field work, case studies and the inclusion of data into the Mercury Watch database.
The Mercury Watch Database is an AGC project sponsored by the United Nations Environment program. It is dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and publically serving information about mercury use and emissions around the world with a focus on artisanal and small scale gold mining. This information is very useful for governments and other stakeholders who wish to address important environmental concerns regarding mercury.
Mercury Watch is served publically and is being used: (a) as an open document for discussion with governments and agencies concerned about Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) (b) to encourage input from these stakeholders; and (c) as an education and awareness vehicle.
Mercury Watch is served publically and is being used: (a) as an open document for discussion with governments and agencies concerned about Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) (b) to encourage input from these stakeholders; and (c) as an education and awareness vehicle.
The database can be queried to provide basic information by country such as largest ASGM gold production, largest mercury exporter, etc. The website will be updated to incorporate stakeholder input, ASGM population estimates, and multilingual support.
Reducing mercury emissions from gold shops in Tanzania
Partners: EEB, AGENDA
The Artisanal Gold Council, along with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
- a federation of environmental organisations, and AGENDA - a Tanzania based NGO pioneering environmentally responsible development, are collaborating on a project to reduce mercury emissions from gold shops in small-scale gold mining communities in Tanzania.
Following an assessment trip by AGC and AGENDA to the Mwanza region in October 2010, more detailed feasibility and implementation is being conducted by AGENDA in 2011. The project will install mercury vapour condensers into gold shops. The condensers capture mercury vapour that would otherwise be released directly into ASM communities when
amalgam is burned. The goals of the project are to encourage the propagation of this technology by demonstrating its economic and health benefits, and also to increase awareness about the dangers of mercury exposure.
Partner: University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana
In 2011 this project will focus on testing, adapting, and improve the technology; and on introducing the direct smelting approach to a wider audience. Education on the negative health impacts of mercury will be delivered along with training on the direct smelting technology.
Technical Guidance Document for ASGM
Artisanal Gold Council and the United Nations Environment Program
United Nations Environment Program and the Artisanal Gold Council are working to produce a Technical Document on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM). The purpose of the document is to provide examples of existing technologies that can reduce mercury use in ASM communities, and implementing strategies for short and long term goals. This document will assist governments with the development of mercury reduction programs but is also being designed to be an easy-to-access source of basic education regarding ASGM processing considerations.
The project aims to to strengthen and enhance other ongoing actions related to work in ASGM communities. Information on operational and access requirements required for implementation of various technologies will be included. The document will also address the social and economic aspects that sometimes prevent new technologies from being adopted. Testing and development of the document in 2010 has included field work, case studies and the inclusion of data into the Mercury Watch database.