PlanetGOLD for mercury-free gold mining to expand to 15 states at $ 342 m

19 / 02 / 2023

• news
• Sustainable Development

PlanetGOLD program for mercury-free gold mining is set to expand to an additional 15 countries and leverage co-financing of over $342 million during its second phase which spearheaded in January 2023.

It aims to reduce mercury use by 512 tons, improve over 1.2 million hectares of land, mitigate some 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and benefit 370,000 people over the next six years.

Mercury is a toxic chemical that can cause irreversible brain damage and disrupt ecosystem health. There is no known safe exposure level for elemental mercury in humans, and effects can occur at even very low levels.

In this second phase, PlanetGOLD will help artisanal mines formalize their operations, Ludovic Bernaudat, PlanetGOLD program manager said.

“The informal status of many mining communities makes it difficult to phase out mercury. So, bringing miners into the formal economy can result in higher incomes and better working conditions, while helping to overcome social and environmental challenges.”

“Gold mining is a big part of our life. We don’t like using mercury but we have no choice,” said Demver Suzara, president of the mining association overseeing the site. “It’s dangerous. Mercury should be banned.”

Globally, up to 20 million miners in over 80 countries work in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including 4–5 million women and children. These operations, which are often unregulated and unsafe, are responsible for 37 percent of global mercury pollution – more than any other sector.

The planetGOLD program, led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), aims to end the toxic trail of small-scale gold mining. Representatives work with governments, the private sector and mining communities across the world to eliminate mercury from artisanal mining and promote safer work environments. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, it operates under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global accord designed to phase out the use of mercury.

“Over 100 million people rely on artisanal gold mining for their livelihoods, so it’s critical that we work with governments to equip miners with the knowledge and tools necessary to phase out mercury use,” said Ludovic Bernaudat, PlanetGOLD program manager.

Artisanal mining accounts for 20 percent of the global supply of gold and generates approximately $30 billion annually.

Yet artisanal operations are informal and fall outside the purview of existing national regulatory frameworks. This can be because governments lack access to reliable information about the sector, are unable to provide administrative, technical and financial support, or favor large-scale mining operations.

“Existing policies and regulations unintentionally create a barrier to formalization due to [their] lengthy, expensive, and too technical requirements and processes,” added Abigail Ocate, national project manager of PlanetGOLD Philippines.

Many governments are taking action to implement safer standards under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which aims to comprehensively regulate the element throughout its life cycle, from production to use to disposal. But enforcement is not always consistent, especially in rural areas and developing nations, giving rise to unsafe artisanal operations.

Artisanal and small-scale mining emits over 2,000 tons of mercury per year. This includes emissions to air from heating amalgams, as well as direct losses of mercury to land and water. The chemical, which has been used in mining for over 3,000 years, does not degrade in the environment. Research shows that forest canopies near small-scale gold mining sites can intercept and accumulate large volumes of atmospheric mercury pollution.

This means mercury can build up and be passed along the food chain. It can then cause nervous, digestive and immune system damage to animals and humans alike. Estimates suggest that up to 100 million people are directly or indirectly exposed to mercury from small-scale gold mining.

To counter gold mining’s toxic trail, PlanetGOLD is facilitating the sharing of technical materials and guidance between artisanal gold mines and governments. It is also advocating for new technological alternatives to reduce and ultimately eliminate reliance on mercury.

The first phase of PlanetGOLD initiated projects to improve access to finance in nine countries, including Kenya, the Philippines and Indonesia. This phase reduced mercury use in small-scale mining by an estimated 369 tons and equipped thousands of miners with greater understanding of safer mining practices.

“The miners were really happy,” says Abel Ouedraogo, a senior exploration geologist at the site. “They told us, ‘We are confident the processing plant will help us transition from mercury use to a mercury-free system. We are very happy.’”