Outline
Global Mercury Project
· About ASM Artisanal and Small-scale Mining
· About the GMP Global Mercury Project
NEXT PHASE OF
· Next Steps of the GMP
THE GMP
· New Structure of the GMP
· Scope of the Divisions: 1. TDU
Marcello M. Veiga
· Scope of the Divisions: 2. Awareness Campaign
Chief Technical Advisor, UNIDO
· Scope of the Divisions: 3. Results and Policy
Development
M.Veiga@unido.org
veiga@apsc.ubc.ca
· Scope of the Divisions: 4. Risk Assessment and
Reclamation Strategies
· Scope of the Divisions: 5. Media Relations
· Conclusion
ASM Needs to Be Put into a Context
Global Mercury Project
The term artisanal & small-scale miners (ASM)
encompasses all small, medium, informal, legal and
illegal miners who use rudimentary processes to extract
minerals from secondary and primary ores.
About ASM Artisanal
and Small-scale Mining
Zimbabwe, 2003
Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)
Gold ASM is Growing
The way of working makes the difference between
Gold price increasing = More people involved
Conventional and Artisanal Mining
Conventional
Artisanal
geology, drilling
feeling, testing
reserves
subsistence
engineering
curiosity, pay bills
sophisticated equipment homemade devices
1
Gold ASM
Women in Artisanal Mining
· Number of ASM have increased notably in Asia and
Africa and reduced a bit in Latin America
·
Approximately 30% of the
world's artisanal miners are
· In China: 3 to 15 million miners ...depending on how
women
ASM is defined (Gunson & Veiga, 2002)
·
15 to 20% of ASM in Latin
· Best guess: 20 to 30 Million ASM (50% involved in gold)
America are women
in more than 55 countries
·
30 to 40% in Africa
· More than 1000 tonnes/a Hg released by ASM worldwide
·
10 to 20% in Asia
· This represents 1/3 of the anthropogenic Hg emissions
Sources:
42% of the people in
- MMSD (2002)
Sub-Saharan Africa
- Hinton, Veiga and Beinhoff (2003)
makes US$ 1/day
Brazil, 1997
Women in Artisanal Mining
Mining & Child Labor
ILO (1999) estimates 250,000 working children in ASM
Tanzania, 2001
Indonesia, 2003
Venezuela, 1995
In the world this can represent as much as
Suriname, 1996
9 million women directly employed
Mining & Child Labor
Facts
...currently this can be > 2,000,000 children (ILO, 2004)
· ASM is the main environmental and social problem
related to mining activities in developing countries
· Most people in developing countries become miners to
escape complete social marginalization
· Governments are generally not prepared to deal with
issues related to artisanal mining
· In many rural regions, artisanal mining is an island of
"prosperity" in a sea of poverty
Laos, 2003
2
Mercury is just the Tip of the Iceberg
Mercury is just the Tip of the Iceberg
visible villain
· Mercury Pollution
· Environmental
· Disrespect for cultures
Impacts
(conflicts)
· Degradation of
· Degradation of moral values
Socio-Economic
· Drinking and drug problems
Conditions
· Illegal activities
· Health Impacts
· Money laundering & smuggling
· Lack of Economic
· High cost of living in mining
Alternatives
villages
Causes of Poor ASM Practice
· Disorganization &
Global Mercury Project
transience
· Lack of proper training
· Depletion of easy ore
(no technical
About GMP Global
assistance)
· Inadequate regulations
Mercury Project
· Financial barriers
· Misconceptions
· Lack of support from
mainstreams of society
· Hidden interests
Tanzania, 2000
UN Millennium Development Goals
Global Mercury Project
1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2) Achieve universal primary education
3) Promote gender equality and empower women
4) Reduce child mortality
5) Improve maternal health
Sudan
Laos
6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Indonesia
Tanzania
7) Ensure environmental sustainability
Brazil
Zimbabwe
8) Develop a global partnership for development
Started on Aug. 2002
it will last until 2nd half of 2006
3
What does the Global Mercury Project (GMP)
Global Mercury Project
aim to accomplish?
· Improvements in community health
Reduce mercury exposure
Origin of funds for projects:
US$
%
· Miners and processors (women, men and
children)
Regular UNIDO Budget
130,000
2
· Families and vulnerable populations
UNDP
280,000
3
UNDP/GEF
350,000
4
Promote health seeking behaviors
Donor funding:
· Improvements in community quality of life
Government of Austria
70,000
1
Increase income
Government of France
250,000
3
· More gold; possible economic diversity
Government of Japan
350,000
4
Promote sense of security (family and community)
GEF Global Mercury Project (2002) 6,806,800 83
· Greater participation in formal economy
Total Budget since 1995:
8,236,800 100
· Reduction and prevention of Hg contamination globally
Objectives of the GMP
(as in the Project Document)
Objective 3
Assess the extent of environmental (mercury) pollution
Objective 1A
in surrounding water bodies and devise intervention
Establishment of a UNIDO- based Program Co-
measures.
ordination Unit (PCU) and a Global Project Task Force.
Objective 4
Objective 1B
Establish a databank comprising technological
Establishment of the programme management
requirements relevant to artisanal gold mining and
structures in each of the six participating countries
extraction activities.
(Brazil, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Sudan, Tanzania,
Zimbabwe).
Objective 5
Demonstrate within the project demonstration sites, the
Objective 2
application of affordable high-efficiency clean
Identify project demonstration sites and organize
technology.
training in technology and raising awareness of miners,
Governments, NGOs and the general public.
Summary of the Objectives of the GMP
Objective 6
Develop country specific policies and legislation that
Objective 1: organize
will lead to implementable standards on the application
of mercury.
Objective 2: awareness
Objective 7
Objective 3: monitoring
Promote the dissemination of the produced project
Objective 4: databank
results and identify opportunities that will allow the
project to continue beyond the three year time frame.
Objective 5: demonstrate
Objective 6: policy
Objective 7: dissemination
4
Completion of the Objectives
Completion of the Objectives
Objective completion (%) by April 2005
Objective
% of completion of
Indonesia Sudan
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
Brazil
Lao PDR
Country
project objectives by
1. organize
40
64
56
48
56
56
April 2005
1. organize
20
44
24
52
76
64
Indonesia
21.3
2. awareness
20
34
26
31
29
14
Tanzania
24.7
3. monitoring
49
40
66
49
57
77
Zimbabwe
30.2
4. databank
16
40
8
36
48
36
Brazil
36.6
5. demonstrate
0
6
0
0
6
26
6. policy
6
46
0
23
20
17
Lao PDR
37.0
7. dissemination
0
35
20
5
10
5
Sudan
37.4
Summary
What Was Done and What Has to Be Done
Global Mercury Project
environmental and health assessment;
build capacity in local laboratories to assess impact
of mercury pollution;
· create awareness to reduce mercury pollution caused
Next Steps of the GMP
by artisanal miners on international waters;
· introduce cleaner technologies for gold extraction
and train miners (demonstration sites);
· develop capacity and regulatory mechanisms within
Government that will enable the sector to minimize
mercury pollution.
What Has to Be Done
What Has to Be Done
(according to the Project Document)
(according to the Project Document)
Transportable Demonstration Units
Awareness Campaign
Scope:
Scope:
2.3 - Assessment of miners' training needs
G
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2.4 - Organize awareness campaigns
4.1 - Database on artisanal mining technology
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2.5 - Conduct awareness programs through media
4.2 - Infobase for local and foreign suppliers
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2.6 - Develop training/awareness material
4.3 - Identification of local facilities for fabrication
3.6 - Building capacity in local labs
4.4 - Check tax regime on importation of equipment
5.1 - Conduct training for miners
4.5 - Develop micro-financing programs
5.7 - Elaborate documentary videos
5.1 - Conduct training for miners
5.2 - Conduct training for manufacturers
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5.3 - Demonstrate and install demonstration units
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5.4 - Demonstrate high-recovery gravity conc. equipm.
ves
5.5 - Establish equipment supply channels
5
What Has to Be Done
What Has to Be Done
(according to the Project Document)
(according to the Project Document)
Results and Policy Development
Risk Assessment and Reclamation Strategies
Scope:
Scope:
6.1 - Literature review and database
3.7 - Formulate measures for "hotspot" remediation
6.2 - Review and compare indicators, regulations & policies
3.4 - Establish extent of Hg migration from hotspots
6.3 - Recommend indicators, regulations & policies
(model Hg migration using GIS techniques)
6.4 - Consult stakeholder about recommendations
5.6 - Conduct (suggest) mercury immobilization;
6.5 - Develop guidelines on indicators and legislation
advise Governments on methods to adopt the
6.6 - Workshop on legislation
remediation strategies
6.7 - Develop enforcement programs
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What Has to Be Done
What Has to Be Done
(according to the Project Document)
Summary
SOL
Workshop & Fundraising
First phase was environment
U
al
Scope:
TI
and health assessment
ON
2.7 - Assist Govts to improve institutional cooperation
S
·
7.1 - Workshops on gold extraction techniques
Now it is time for INTERVENTIONS
7.2 - Regional annual workshops
Education of miners and communities
7.3 - Review opportunities for self-financing
7.4 - Organize donors' conference
Higher efficiency gravity concentration
G
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Reduction of Hg emissions and exposure
j
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ec
tives
UNIDO Coordinator
Pablo Huidobro
New
Global Mercury Project
S
G
tr
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UNIDO Chief Technical Advisor
uc
P
tu
Marcello Veiga
re
Assistant of Country Focal Points
Consultants
Aloyce Tesha (Tanzania)
Randy Baker
Budi Susilorini (Indonesia)
Rini Sulaiman
New Structure of the
Dennis Shoko (Zimbabwe)
Bern Klein
Eravanh Boungnaphalom (Lao PDR)
Steve McAlister
Mohamed Ibrahim (Sudan)
GMP
Media Relations
Roberto Villas Boas (Brazil)
Shefa Siegel
UNIDO Administrator
Webmaster
Svitlana Bogoslavska
Frederic Mertens
Transportable
Awareness
Results & Policy
Reclamation
Demonstration Units
Campaign
Development
Strategies
Andrew Bamber
Steve Metcalf
Sam Spiegel
David Stevens
Blair Woodhurst
Gillian Davis
A.J. Gunson
Kevin Telmer
Andrew Gillis
Cody Hopkins
Will Close-Brooks
Carlos Ribeiro
Eduardo Barçante
6
Education/Training is not Trivial
Global Mercury Project
· Miners cannot afford to stop their activities to
"be educated"
Scope of the Divisions:
· Miners learn by examples
· Miners must decide for themselves what is
1. Transportable
good or not
· Miners are moving from one site to another
Demonstration Units (TDU)
· Traditional demonstration units stay in place
while miners move on
· GMP innovation: Transportable Demonstration Units
Transportable Demonstration Units (TDU)
Transportable Demonstration Units (TDU)
1. cheaper to implement than fixed training centers
8. further education: health & sanitation,
2. training units go to where the miners are
bookkeeping, legal issues, etc) and awareness for
non-miner communities
3. a variety of technical options demonstrated
9. monitoring teams can make use of the units
4. easy to change and adapt new pieces of
equipment
10.the units can bring ideas to improve the livelihood
of different mining communities such as
5. more miners and families can be reached
suggesting economic diversification activities or
6. the ownership is easy to decide; no land or
value-adding techniques
mineral title issues or conflicts
Transportable Demonstration Units (TDU)
Transportable Demonstration Units (TDU)
educational
Multi-purpose:
theater
· Demonstrate a variety of technological
personal
technical
container, truck or
protective
options for comminution, concentration,
trainer
trailer
equipment
amalgamation and retorting
mineral processing
· Pilot operations for training purposes
hands-on
and amalgamation
tent
· Show best Hg practice
equipment
training
Hg Lab
· Platform for Awareness Campaign Materials
brochures
with
· Environmental, health and safety functions
LUMEX
SO
classroom
LU
· Mineralogical and process evaluation
audio-
TIO
health
visual
NS
trainer/nurse
7
Process Equipment for Demonstration
Selection of Equipment to Be
Design Criteria:
Demonstrated
· Pilot scale equipment:
· Evaluated and approved by stakeholders
feed typically 50 kg batches
· Transport by pickup:
· Site-specific (depending on the degree of
max dimension 1m, typically < 500kg
mechanization in each country)
· Small electric power ~ 220V
· Equipment "per se" will not educate miners:
· Equipment is easy to scale-up
COMMITMENT is needed
· Suitable for local manufacture or in-house
development
How the TDU Will Interact with
Public
Global Mercury Project
Awareness
TDU
Campaign
Scope of the Divisions:
Government
Miners and
and Agencies
Communities
2. Awareness Campaign
Results and
Reclamation
Policy
Strategies
Development
Awareness Campaign
Stresses miners face
· Poverty
When people are stressed, it's
· Disease and lack of community health
really hard to adopt new
services
· Lack of legal tenure
behaviors - even if they want to.
· Dangerous work conditions
Cave-ins
Landslides
Reducing stress on miners
S
Process chemicals: mercury and cyanide
O
promotes real changes
L
Dust and noise
UTIONS
8
Ways to reduce miners' stress
What else stops miners from adopting
· Increase income through better gold recoveries
safer mercury practices
· Health promotion and education
· Lack of realistic alternatives
· Disease mitigation
· Perceptions
PRACTICAL health care interventions
"Mercury is not so bad as people say"
(Vaccinations, prenatal and postnatal care, etc)
Nutrition information
"Other diseases are more important"
Water and sanitation
· Toxic exposures are invisible
· Good business practice
· Lack of knowledge about consequences
· Micro-credit
· Attitudes
· Alternative livelihoods
"Men need to be tough"
· Legalization
"This is not my land...I don't care"
What else stops miners from adopting
What else stops miners from
safer mercury practices
adopting safer mercury practices
· Miners have little political power
· Barriers in past efforts to introduce new
· In many cases, miners do not hold the
technologies
mineral right titles
Developed without consultation
· Miners often avoid paying taxes
Too expensive
Too complicated
· In many cases, miners come from other
regions (no link with the land)
Just did not work
· Miners are constrained by gold dealers who
Miners did not think that change was worthwhile
buy and control Au and Hg prices
Miners' mobility was not considered
Increasing Awareness
Awareness Campaign
Miners can't afford to stop working to go to
Strategy
"school"
· Increase impact of awareness campaign by
· Miners learn by hands-on training
partnering with stakeholders
Miner organizations
· Miners should see BENEFITS:
Miller organizations
More money
Women's organizations
Better health
All levels of government (e.g. Departments of
Better opportunities for their children
Health, Education, Mining, Mayors, etc.)
NGOs
· Personal contact is critical: CHAMPIONS in
the communities are needed
International institutions
9
Awareness Campaign
Information Vehicles
Materials
· Communicate
Mercury hazards
· Radio and TV
· Songs (e.g., cordels)
Mineral processing solutions
· Videos (Animations)
· Community activities
· Promote
· Newspapers
· Comic books
Health seeking behaviors
· Brochures
· Hats, T-shirts, footballs
Community health solutions (Child and women's
· Posters
· Entertainment
health, Water and sanitation, etc.
· Billboards
Movies, soccer matches
Musicians and dancers
· Country and culture specific
· PowerPoints
Theater and circus
· Contain lots of pictures/illustrations
· Speeches/lectures
Very few words
Media Campaign
Brochures and Posters
- technical -
· Partnerships with local and regional media
Newspapers and billboards
· Overview of artisanal mining and mineral
Radio and television
processing methods
- Programming
· Gravity concentration
- Advertising with local and regional broadcasters
Sluices and centrifuges
· Grinding and crushing
· Partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers
· Mercury use
Amalgamation systems
· Sports and TV celebrities
Retorts
Brochures and Posters
Basic health care at TDUs
- health -
· Mercury hazards and solutions
· Give families a direct, practical reason to
interact with the TDU
Why Hg is a hazard and what people
can do to protect themselves
· Build trust
What happens to Hg when it goes into
· Show that better health is possible
the air, water and ground.
· Provide basic assistance as an infirmary
How mercury makes you sick
· MAKE THE LINK BETWEEN MERCURY AND
· Maternal and baby health
HEALTH
· Occupational health
· HIV/Aids and other diseases
+
· Water and sanitation
· Nutrition
10
Brochures and Posters
Training Modules
- community -
Better Health, More Gold, Less Mercury
· Business and Micro-credit
· Organization and division of labour
Modules:
Options and processes for communities
1. How to extract more gold
· Development of employment alternatives
2. How mercury makes us sick
· Legal issues (country specific)
3. How to use and re-use mercury safely
Mineral rights
4. How to make more money
Formalization
5. How to protect water supplies and improve sanitation
6. How to prevent HIV, malaria and other diseases
Challenges
Key steps
· How to make campaign material fit a
· Focus on community health as a whole
country's technical and cultural
Mercury is just a small part of the problem
conditions?
Address other pressing needs at the same time as
· How to make the most with limited
mercury
funds?
· Focus in particular on women & family health
· How to address gender in different
Women's historic concern has been for the health
cultures?
of her family
· Awareness can lead to organizational
change - what are the consequences of
this?
Key steps
Success of the
Train-the-Trainer Model
· Go beyond "risk communication"
Offer solutions
· Promote health seeking attitudes
Build on cultural strengths and values
Support health enhancing behaviors
· Build awareness campaign from the bottom up,
not from the top down
Consultation
Relationships
The GMP Team trained
...later in the day, the
local miners on the use of
local workers were
retorts to reduce Hg
teaching others in the
exposure...
community.
11
Results and Policy Development
Global Mercury Project
· Compile results of:
Environmental and Health Assessments
Scope of the Divisions:
Socio-economic Assessments
Legal Studies
3. Results and Policy
· Develop policy recommendations for
Development
government and local stakeholders
· Conduct stakeholder workshops
Results and Policy Development
Global Mercury Project
· Study capacity for micro-financing for
ASM in each GMP country
- to acquire mineral rights
- to acquire better equipment
Scope of the Divisions:
- to promote better oganization
4. Risk Assessment and
· Conduct stakeholder workshops with
governments, banks, NGOs, and
Reclamation Strategies
communities
· Test pilot micro-finance programmes
· Promote long-term solutions
Risk Assessment and Reclamation Strategies
Risk Assessment and Reclamation Strategies
·
Evaluate techniques to reclaim Hg-impacted
·
Use GIS to evaluate the growth and mobility
sites, e.g.
of artisanal mining:
Covering with laterite
How ASM increased over time
Re-processing tailings to remove Hg
Relationship between impacted area, Au
Revegetation
production and Hg loss and mobility
Dredging and treat Hg-polluted material
Migration patterns of miners
·
Make inventory of sites with artisanal
mining activities in the study areas
·
Create tools to establish reclamation and
mitigation strategies for mercury
·
Create tools to evaluate environmental
effects and correlation between sediments
contaminated sites
and Hg on water systems
·
Develop plans for land use and economy
·
Create tools to predict risks of tailing dam
diversification of mining communities based
failure and landslides in ASM regions
on natural resources vocation
12
Media Relations
Global Mercury Project
· Increase visibility of mercury and small-
scale mining issues in media
· Communicate goals and activities of
Scope of the Divisions:
GMP
Press releases, background papers, and
5. Media Relations
feature articles highlighting activities of
GMP to keep news media and relevant
agencies informed and updated
· Improve global partnerships
Conclusion
· Artisanal mining is a poverty-
driven activity
· Hg emissions are increasing up
to 1000 tonnes/a...and growing!
· Number of ASM is increasing
with gold price and more women
and kids are being involved
· GMP must focus this phase on
INTERVENTIONS:
Building capacity training
and demonstrating solutions
with miners, families and
authorities
13