 United
Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
UNIDO PROGRAMME FOR INTRODUCING CLEANER
ARTISANAL GOLD MINING AND EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSING
THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIVITY ON HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Mercury is one of a number of pollutants causing growing
concern because of the long-term impacts on ecosystems and human
health. Artisanal and small-scale mining in contrast to other sectors
where mercury utilization is decreasing, remains a dangerous source
of mercury pollution. The problem affects all developing countries
in Latin America, Africa and Asia, where gold is produced on an
artisanal basis. Artisanal mining accounts for one-quarter of the
world's gold output and it is estimated that 2 million are directly
involved in this sub-sector, with several million people being economically
dependent on the activities. A high percentage of small-scale miners
use the mercury-based amalgamation process. The resulting peripheral
contamination and introduction of mercury into the food chain have
potentially catastrophic results for the environment, miners' health
and the health of people involved indirectly, including the unborn.
In recent years, life-threatening mercury pollution has been identified
in most developing countries where artisanal gold production is
taking place.
In response to this situation, UNIDO has been making
continuous efforts to provide assistance to the small-scale mining
sector, in particular the artisanal gold mining sector. Requests
for assistance in reducing mercury emissions were forwarded to UNIDO,
emanating especially from governments that had become increasingly
aware and concerned about the dangers involved in these activities.
Since the impacts on health and environment are multifaceted and
complex, governments particularly requested support, in the areas
of education, training and technology transfer. In this respect,
UNIDO offers cross-discipline programmes, comprising measures for
environmental protection, introduction of new technologies and manufacturing
of equipment and training in these fields, especially training for
women. UNIDO makes particular efforts to ensure that women participate
and benefit equally from the introduction of new equipment and processing
techniques.
More than 10 countries have requested UNIDO's assistance
in different projects related to artisanal gold mining. Some of
them, such as Ghana, Tanzania and the Philippines, have already
benefited from UNIDO’s assistance. In the coming years, UNIDO
will provide assistance to Brazil, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Sudan, Tanzania
and Zimbabwe. UNIDO's approach to the problem involves replacing
low recovery, high mercury consuming and discharging processes with
environmentally safe and high-yield gold extraction alternatives
that will greatly reduce or eliminate the use and discharge of mercury.
Extensive awareness raising and training campaigns are conducted
for mining communities, in order to demonstrate the environmental
and economic benefits of the newly introduced techniques. In parallel,
monitoring systems are set up and the capacities of local laboratories
are enhanced to ensure sustainability.
UNIDO documents featured cover the following topics:
•Mercury Abatement
•Coal Sector
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General information on UNIDO's coal sector programme in India
may be viewed on the UNIDO website:
The Rehabilitation of the Indian Coal
Sector - [http://www.unido.org/en/doc/4577]
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